Borders between Spain and Morocco reopen for the first time in two years amid improved relations

The land borders between Morocco and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla have reopened for the primary time in over two years.

Queues of individuals and visitors gathered at Tarajal and Beni Enzar to witness the reopening at midnight.

The EU's solely land borders with Africa have lengthy been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a diplomatic disaster between Madrid and Rabat.

Crossings have been initially restricted to residents of Europe’s passport-free Schengen space and their relations and might be expanded to cross-border employees by the tip of Might.

Melilla regional President Eduardo de Castro instructed Spanish state radio RNE that it could take "a number of months" for customs controls to be re-established.

Ferry visitors between the 2 neighbouring international locations resumed a number of weeks in the past on 12 April.

Spain and Morocco have moved to fix relations after a years-long dispute over the disputed area of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1976.

The row escalated when Madrid allowed the chief of Western Sahara’s pro-independence motion to be handled for COVID-19 at a Spanish hospital.

In retaliation, Morocco appeared to ease border controls at Ceuta in Might 2021, permitting 1000's of migrants to cross into Spain.

However tensions started to thaw earlier this 12 months after Spain backed Morocco’s plan to grant extra autonomy to Western Sahara.

The native economies on either side of the fences rely closely on the crossings of products and employees.