Ceuta and Melilla: Spain's African enclaves after five centuries

Ceuta and Melilla are Spain's two North African territories and the only EU lands on continental Africa, under Spanish sovereignty for over five centuries. Their status has returned to headlines after a migrant surge at Ceuta's border this week. Source: Infobae

The historical roots

Ceuta was conquered by Portugal in 1415, while Melilla was taken by Castile in 1497 during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. Source: El Confidencial Ceuta passed into the Spanish sphere after the union of the Portuguese and Spanish crowns — El Caribe and El Confidencial date this to 1580, while Infobae cites 1589 — and stayed Spanish after Portugal regained independence in 1640. The 1668 Treaty of Lisbon formally recognised Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta. Source: El Caribe

Strategic value

Both sit at the Strait of Gibraltar, a vital route between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Source: El Confidencial Between 1912 and 1956 Spain administered part of a Moroccan protectorate, but Ceuta and Melilla were excluded and retained their status after Morocco became independent. Source: Infobae One quirk: although Spain is in NATO, Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty excludes Ceuta and Melilla from the alliance's territory because they lie outside Europe, North America and Turkey. Source: El Caribe

The dispute

Morocco has laid claim to both cities since its independence in 1956; Spain rejects negotiation. Source: El Confidencial The UN does not list them as territories pending decolonisation, and international law does not regard them as colonies. Since 1995 they are autonomous cities with powers between a municipality and an autonomous community. Source: Infobae, El Confidencial Their position as the EU's only land borders in Africa keeps them at the centre of migration and diplomatic crises. Source: El Confidencial