Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi firmly demands the return to Morocco of Moroccan children and minors who crossed the border into Ceuta at the end of July and are currently in Spain. He also holds the Spanish authorities responsible for their fate and the conditions of their stay far from their families and homeland.
In an interview with the Moroccan publication Hespress, the minister stated that “Morocco confirms its commitment to return its children and minors who are in Spain, including those who recently arrived in Ceuta or other centers”. He emphasized that the country has no intention of abandoning Moroccan children and adolescents.
Morocco demands the return of minors
The Justice Minister stated that Morocco “will demand the return of its children by legal and political means”, holding the Spanish authorities responsible for the fate of these minors and the conditions of their lives far from their families and country. Ouahbi added that the strong relations between Morocco and Spain, as well as the high level of cooperation and coordination between the two countries, require an immediate resolution to this problem. According to him, the solution must guarantee the return of Moroccan minors to their families and country, while preserving the spirit of cooperation and good relations between Rabat and Madrid.
The minister emphasized that the best environment for ensuring the future of these children remains their families and homeland. He confirmed that “Morocco does not intend to abandon its children, its youth, and its adolescents”, specifying that this position applies to all Moroccan minors involved in this matter.
Rabat demands the return of all its children and insists that, when considering their situation, their best interests, future, and right to return to their family environment must be primarily taken into account.
This position, according to Hespress, was voiced after consultations between the Moroccan Justice Minister and his Spanish counterpart Félix Bolaños regarding the situation of Moroccan minors. The negotiations focused on legal and institutional mechanisms to resolve the problem, as well as procedures for identifying them and reuniting them with their families.
Ouahbi previously emphasized that Spain is a friendly country to Morocco, and maintaining good relations between the two states is of fundamental importance. According to him, legal and institutional cooperation, along with direct dialogue, are means to resolve problems related to migration and unaccompanied minors.
Source: La Vanguardia
