Morocco and Spain disagree on the number of Moroccans stranded in Ceuta

Repatriating Moroccans stranded in Ceuta has not started yet as Morocco and Spain has not agreed yet on the number of Moroccans to leave the autonomous city, Spanish news agency EFE reports.

Government sources told EFE that Morocco has only a list of 280 people, while the Spanish authorities have set up a list of 700 Moroccans for the Kingdom to repatriate.

During negotiations, Rabat announced that it is planning to repatriate 280 of its nationals stranded in Ceuta, excluding those who had irregularly entered the city. The Kingdom does not consider them «stranded», the same source explained.

EFE reported that Rabat has booked two hotel complexes on the Mediterranean coast south of Ceuta to accommodate the repatriated nationals and quarantine them.

On Friday May 15, Moroccan authorities authorized the repatriation of about 150 Moroccans stranded in Melilla. The group is currently quarantined in Saidia.