MREs trapped in Melilla

After spending the holidays in Morocco, many Moroccans living abroad (MRE) encounter enormous difficulties in returning to their host countries from Melilla via maritime transport lines.

Long queues, lack of ferry lines, disrupted departure and arrival times, increased ferry ticket prices… For some Moroccans living abroad (MRE), returning to their host country via Melilla turns into a nightmare. “Going through the city of Melilla means waiting directly under the scorching sun for long hours, because there are about four offices on the Moroccan side that participate in the operation. Thus, members of the Moroccan community arrive hours in advance in front of the border post without having the slightest idea of ​​the departure and arrival times at the port,” tells Hespress Mohamed, a Moroccan living in France. As a result, “Moroccans were unable to board the ferries they had booked, even though they arrived well before the scheduled time.” According to him, traveling via Melilla is a must for MREs. “We chose to travel via Melilla to Malaga in Spain because the other ports do not provide enough ferries; this is what pushed many people to make the same decision,” Mohamed explains.