Yesterday the post referred to individual
territorial disputes between African and non-African parties and the case of
the Glorioso Islands. Today we continue with the Spanish presence in African
territory and another case.
Ceuta and Melilla
Both
Morocco and Spain claim sovereignty over the five Territories of Ceuta,
Melilla, Penon de Vélez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucémas and the Chafarinas
Islands in North Africa. The most important of these is Ceuta which is located
at the eastern entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.
Spain
claims these territories on historical grounds: right of conquest and terra
nullis principles; longevity of occupation; national security and the UN
territorial integrity of the state principle. Spain stresses that the majority
of residents there are Spanish and wish to remain under Spanish rule. Also
treaties were signed by Morocco in relation to the Sovereign Territories.
Morocco
argues that the: UN principles of decolonization must be applied; Spanish
occupation obstructs the economic and political independence of the kingdom;
the Spanish bases threaten Moroccan national security; and the UN territorial
integrity principle applies. Morocco stresses that Spanish arguments for the
recovery of the British Crown Colony of Gibraltar substantiate Morocco's to the
Plazas. Fundamentally, territorial disputes in the region are the legacy of the
historical geopolitical organization of the area. Because of Spanish control of
the Sovereign Territories, since 1986 the EC has common boundaries with an Arab
state. The Territories are also within the NATO defence area because of Spanish
membership of the Alliance.
Though
the Plazas are an integral part of the Spanish state, they are officially
referred to as "North African Territories under Spanish Supervision",
"Plazas de Soberania" (Sovereign Territories) and in everyday speech "Presidios".
Spain acquired the Plazas in the following ways: Ceuta was ceded by Portugal,
Melilla was seized by force, Vélez was occupied with reference to the Treaty
of Tordesillas, Alhucémas was ceded by the Sultan, and the Chafarinas were
peacefully occupied.
Today, the political nomenclature of these regions can be
understood by the status of autonomous cities. While the Mediterranean Sea
separates Spain from Ceuta and Melilla, both cities are considered
self-governing regions of Spain, without belonging to any other autonomous
community.
Ceuta is located 15 miles from mainland Spain while Melilla
is further east and geographically much closer to Moroccan cities than Spanish
ones. As both of these Spanish cities neighbor and border Moroccan territory,
they demonstrate a unique linguistic situation. While Ceuta and Melilla have
relatively similar populations, each at slightly over 70,000, they have very
distinct situations. In Ceuta, 50% of the population is of Peninsular origin,
while the other half comes from a Moroccan background. Bilingualism, however,
only affects those of Moroccan descent. That is to say, those living in Ceuta
who are of Peninsular origin remain monolingual Spanish speakers. Education is
entirely in Spanish, and Arabic does not have any official status.
Meanwhile, Melilla is composed of a population representing
60% Peninsular origin and 40% Berber origin. The Berber language was the indigenous
tongue of Morocco before the Arab conquest in Northern Africa toward the end of
the seventh century, in 670. In contrast to Ceuta, Spanish is in contact more
with Berber than with Arabic. Trilingualism, nevertheless, is common among
those Berber descendants in Melilla who establish contact between the Spanish, Arabic
and Berber languages. Similar to Ceuta, the Peninsular originating population
remains monolingual, education is strictly in Spanish, and Berber does not have
any official status.
Being on the frontline of arrivals to Europe, Spain has
faced numerous complex challenges over the last three years, which have been
accentuated by the fact that the borders of the autonomous cities of Melilla
and Ceuta are the only land borders of the EU on the African continent.
Spain has experienced a sharp increase in the number of
migrants and refugees arriving in the country over the last three years, with
16,263 arriving in 2015; 14,094 in 2016; and 28,346 in 2017. They came from
different countries, including Syria, North African countries, in particular
Morocco and Algeria, as well as conflict-torn sub-Saharan countries. Migrants
and refugees have reached Spain primarily by arriving by land or sea at either
of the two autonomous cities of Melilla and Ceuta located in Northern Africa,
or arriving by sea to mainland Spain. In the first half of 2018, the number of
arrivals reached a total of 20,218.
Boundary and
Territory Briefing
The Relation between Spanish
and Arabic
Information Document
(Migration and Refgees)
Jorge Emilio Núñez
26th October 2018
