In Melilla, Spain’s Civil Guard highlights daily security cooperation with Morocco

The commander of the Melilla Civil Guard has praised what he describes as “daily and close” cooperation with Morocco’s Royal Gendarmerie, presented as a key factor in containing migration pressure on the Spanish enclave bordering northern Morocco.

Melilla Civil Guard: what to know

Colonel Jesús Rueda Jiménez heads the Civil Guard in Melilla, a sensitive crossing point between Morocco and Spain. Speaking at an official ceremony for the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, he highlighted joint work with Moroccan security forces.

According to his public statements, this operational cooperation between the Civil Guard and the Royal Gendarmerie helps “ensure the effectiveness of security operations on both sides of the border”. It involves information-sharing and on-the-ground coordination during peaks in pressure at checkpoints and along the fences.

For Moroccans living abroad who frequently transit through northern Morocco, this climate of collaboration contributes to stabilising an area that is regularly under tension due to attempts to enter European territory irregularly.

Over 6,000 attempted entries stopped in two days

The Melilla Civil Guard commander recalled a recent episode that followed incidents in Ceuta. On 30 and 31 July, more than 6,000 attempted entries into Melilla were stopped thanks to this bilateral coordination, according to figures he shared with Spanish media.

He stated that some of these attempts were carried out with “extreme violence”. More than 1,000 people were pushed back and returned to Morocco, in coordination with Moroccan authorities. Security forces on both sides say they handled further calls for new collective attempts in the weeks that followed.

For members of the Moroccan diaspora, these events underline that the border region remains under tight surveillance, with reinforced security cooperation that can translate into:

• stricter control of unauthorised movements around Melilla;
• increased deployment of forces on both sides of the border;
• heightened vigilance during busy summer travel periods.

What does it change for Moroccans living abroad?

This focus on cooperation between Morocco and the Melilla Civil Guard mainly concerns the management of irregular migration. There have been no official announcements of new rules for travellers who are in a regular situation. So far, no measure has been signalled that would modify crossing conditions for people holding valid passports or residence permits.

In practice, Moroccans residing abroad who travel between Morocco and Spain via the north of the country can, however, expect:

— longer checks during periods of heightened security tension;
— a visible presence of coordinated or parallel patrols on both sides of the border;
— strict enforcement of customs and immigration formalities.

Before travelling, it remains advisable to check last-minute information through official channels (consulates, transport companies, institutional portals such as the ministry in charge of Moroccans living abroad) and to keep all travel documents readily available.

Security cooperation and long-term links between both shores

Beyond the events of 30 and 31 July, Colonel Rueda says that coordination is ongoing on a daily basis. This dynamic fits into a broader approach in which Rabat and Madrid seek to manage migration flows while maintaining the functioning of their shared borders.

For the Moroccan community settled in Europe, stability around Melilla and Ceuta remains essential. It directly affects the fluidity of seasonal journeys, temporary returns to Morocco and, more broadly, the perception of this corridor as a safe passage between the two shores.

While reinforced security cooperation can sometimes mean more controls, it is also intended to prevent crises that could seriously disrupt travel. Moroccans abroad can therefore follow these developments closely, as they illustrate how border management between Morocco and Spain has a concrete impact on their mobility.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.