Spain's King Visits Disputed Ceuta and Melilla as Migration Crisis Remains Unresolved

Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will travel to the disputed North African enclaves of Ceuta on October 13 and Melilla on the following day. The trip marks the first time the monarch has visited either city since he ascended the throne in 2014.

The visit comes just weeks after a major migration crisis at the Ceuta border in July. The timing highlights the ongoing diplomatic friction between Madrid and Rabat over control of the coastal territories.

Spain classifies both enclaves as integral parts of its national territory. Morocco claims Ceuta, Melilla, and several smaller Spanish-held outposts on the North African coast.

The territory sits on the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar. The city carries different names depending on the language, known as Ceuta in Spain and Sabta, or Sebta, in Arabic.