Spanish Media: Elon Musk's Dubai Loop Mirrors Spain-Morocco Tunnel Project
Rabat — Spanish media, including El Faro de Ceuta, suggest that Elon Musk's newly unveiled Dubai Loop carries a resemblance to the undersea tunnel project seeking to connect Spain and Morocco.
In February, the Tesla CEO and billionaire Musk announced the Dubai Loop project that seeks to ensure a fast transportation system across Dubai's densely populated areas.
According to UAE news agency WAM, Musk stressed that the project would allow people to travel 'as they were moving through a 'wormhole' within Dubai.'
' Musk spoke about improving government efficiency, pointing out that the biggest challenge lies in reducing bureaucracy and enhancing the technology used within government institutions,' the news agency said, noting that the tech entrepreneur stressed the importance of strong public support for such reforms.
El Faro de Ceuta said today that the project involves parallels to the proposed underwater tunnel between Spain and Morocco, which aims to connect the two territories across the Strait of Gibraltar in the coming years.
In May, converging reports said that Spain allocated €1.6 million to study the viability of an underwater tunnel connecting Europe and Africa.
The Spanish Ministry of Transport reportedly reduced the initial budget from €2.4 million after modifying some planned tasks.
Herrenknecht, the world-leading German company in tunnel development and implementation, is studying construction feasibility, with the aim of completing the assessment by June.
The project is in line with efforts and commitment from the two countries to upgrade infrastructure and boost cooperation at all levels, as Spain and Morocco are co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal.
In March, the Moroccan government announced plans to invest $1.25 billion in highway infrastructure projects ahead of the World Cup.
The investment plan covers the period from 2025 to 2032, focusing on three major projects: the Continental Rabat-Casablanca Highway, the Tit Mellil-Berrechid Highway, and transforming the Ain Harrouda and Sidi Maarouf junctions.
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Spanish Media: Elon Musk's Dubai Loop Mirrors Spain-Morocco Tunnel Project
Rabat — Spanish media, including El Faro de Ceuta, suggest that Elon Musk's newly unveiled Dubai Loop carries a resemblance to the undersea tunnel project seeking to connect Spain and Morocco. In February, the Tesla CEO and billionaire Musk announced the Dubai Loop project that seeks to ensure a fast transportation system across Dubai's densely populated areas. According to UAE news agency WAM, Musk stressed that the project would allow people to travel 'as they were moving through a 'wormhole' within Dubai.' ' Musk spoke about improving government efficiency, pointing out that the biggest challenge lies in reducing bureaucracy and enhancing the technology used within government institutions,' the news agency said, noting that the tech entrepreneur stressed the importance of strong public support for such reforms. El Faro de Ceuta said today that the project involves parallels to the proposed underwater tunnel between Spain and Morocco, which aims to connect the two territories across the Strait of Gibraltar in the coming years. In May, converging reports said that Spain allocated €1.6 million to study the viability of an underwater tunnel connecting Europe and Africa. The Spanish Ministry of Transport reportedly reduced the initial budget from €2.4 million after modifying some planned tasks. Herrenknecht, the world-leading German company in tunnel development and implementation, is studying construction feasibility, with the aim of completing the assessment by June. The project is in line with efforts and commitment from the two countries to upgrade infrastructure and boost cooperation at all levels, as Spain and Morocco are co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal. In March, the Moroccan government announced plans to invest $1.25 billion in highway infrastructure projects ahead of the World Cup. The investment plan covers the period from 2025 to 2032, focusing on three major projects: the Continental Rabat-Casablanca Highway, the Tit Mellil-Berrechid Highway, and transforming the Ain Harrouda and Sidi Maarouf junctions. .
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Vulnerable Moroccan Women Exploited in Spain, Then Expelled
Rabat — Two Moroccan women employed in Spain's lucrative strawberry harvest were reportedly recently sent back to Morocco under troubling circumstances—one while five months pregnant, and another after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. Unions and migrant rights organizations, cited in Spanish media reports, have condemned both incidents as blatant violations of labor laws and basic human dignity, accusing employers of exploitation and neglect. In contrast, the companies involved have downplayed the allegations and offered conflicting accounts in an apparent attempt to deflect responsibility. Unprotected pregnant worker The cases were extensively reported by the Spanish newspaper Publico in an article titled 'A pregnant woman and another with cancer sent back to Morocco: labor rights don't grow in strawberry fields'. In the first case, a group of Moroccan women were hired through Spain's Collective Management of Hiring in the Country of Origin (GECCO) program, which facilitates seasonal labor contracts for agricultural work. They arrived in Huelva in April to work for Berrys la Dehesa, a farm in the town of Cartaya. According to the Workers' Commissions union (CCOO), the women were left without formal contracts, pay slips, or social security registration. Believing their employment would continue, they had already sent their April wages home, leaving them stranded and without resources. CCOO states that the company stopped giving them work after May 9 and failed to provide the required documentation. 'They were left in a situation of extreme economic vulnerability,' said Teresa Pulido, provincial secretary of CCOO's Industry branch. 'They had no money, no legal protection, and were pressured to leave the country 'by their own means'—a clear violation of GECCO's commitments.' Among the group was a woman five months pregnant, whose case drew particular concern. The union filed formal complaints with Spain's Labor Inspectorate and the Government Subdelegation in Huelva. After the intervention, the company was eventually forced to sign contracts and process their Foreign Identity Cards (TIE), which are essential for eligibility in future work seasons. The women have since returned to Morocco, but CCOO has requested that they not be assigned to the same company in future campaigns, to prevent possible retaliation. When approached by journalists, the employer reportedly refused to answer questions. 'I have nothing to say,' he told Publico. According to CCOO, the employer also reacted aggressively during negotiations, allegedly telling a union representative: 'You're not going to mess with me, kid.' Discarded cancer patient In a second, even more alarming case, Zahra, a 47-year-old Moroccan woman who has worked in Huelva's berry fields for seven years, was sent back to Morocco after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had been receiving treatment at the Juan Ramón Jiménez Hospital in Huelva, with medication prescribed through September. The Association of Immigrant Women in Action (AMIA), which remains in contact with Zahra, says the decision to send her home has put her life at risk. 'She can't stop crying,' said Fátima Ezzohayry, AMIA's president. 'She has no money to continue treatment in Morocco, where everything costs money, and public healthcare is limited. If you can't afford it, you die faster.' Zahra is a single mother of six, with three children still in her care. She had stopped working on May 12 due to her illness and was depending on Spain's social security system, which she had contributed to for years as a seasonal worker. AMIA argues that she should have been granted medical leave, not deported. AMIA is now demanding her return to Spain to continue cancer treatment. 'After seven years of legal work under GECCO, she has rights—to sick leave, to care, to dignity,' said Ezzohayry. 'You can't just discard her like this.' The strawberry industry's main association, Interfresa, disputes AMIA's account. Through its Prelsi program—a corporate social responsibility initiative—Interfresa claims Zahra chose to return home. 'She requested to go back to Morocco after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, to be with her family,' said a Prelsi coordinator, who added that Zahra later phoned to thank them for the support in arranging her return. AMIA strongly refutes this version. 'That call was not to thank them,' said Ezzohayry. 'It was to ask for the hospital reports and lab tests she needs for her treatment in Morocco. Without them, doctors there would have to start all over again.' Zahra's former employer, Berrys La Fontanilla, and the cooperative Fresón de Palos, have reportedly declined to comment publicly. Fresón de Palos only told Publico that Zahra was 'supported in everything she needed.' As far as a death sentence The report states that this isn't the first time such a case has surfaced. In 2022, another Moroccan woman named Smahia, also working in Huelva under GECCO, was sent home after being diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer. She had been coming to Spain for 14 years and was supporting four children. According to the group Jornaleras en Lucha, Smahia's employer in Almonte dismissed her condition, suggesting she was 'faking it' to stay in Spain. She died shortly after returning to Morocco. The strawberry industry in Huelva, which spans 11,700 hectares, produces over 350,000 tons of fruit annually and contributes roughly 8% of Andalusia's GDP. Huelva accounts for 97% of Spain's red fruit production, making it a major exporter to countries like the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The sector depends heavily on migrant labor, particularly through the GECCO program, which brought 17,000 Moroccan women to Spain this year alone—4,000 for the first time. While GECCO is presented as a model of circular migration, these recent cases have sparked renewed scrutiny. 'Most employers do things right,' said CCOO's Pulido, 'but when cases like this come to light, it damages the reputation of the entire sector. We must ensure that those who violate the rules face consequences.' 'I wish I had drowned in the sea' The abuse of Moroccan seasonal laborers in Huelva is a long-standing issue, far from being limited to isolated incidents. In 2021, Morocco coordinated the repatriation of 170 women who had been stranded in Spain after facing urgent personal and health-related crises, including illness, the death of relatives, advanced pregnancies, or even childbirth. The repatriation followed negotiations between Spanish and Moroccan consulates and included COVID-19 precautions such as testing and hotel quarantine. That situation echoed the year before, when over 7,000 Moroccan women were trapped in Spain due to pandemic border closures, pleading for return while enduring economic and emotional hardship. These incidents are part of a longer pattern of abuse in Spain's berry industry. Moroccan seasonal workers have repeatedly raised alarm over exploitative labor practices in Huelva's farms — from unpaid wages and excessive hours to degrading treatment and, in some cases, sexual violence. A 2019 New York Times investigation quoted a worker who described the experience as being 'brought to be exploited and sent back,' adding: 'I wish I had drowned in the sea before coming here.' The persistence of such testimonies underscores the systemic nature of the abuses faced by migrant women working in Spain's lucrative red fruit sector.
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'We've agreed to make mobility easier for our citizens,' Ablakwa said during a press briefing with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. 'Although there is already a direct air link between Ghana and Morocco, the visa has been the main barrier to trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchange. Now, with this new measure, that barrier is lifted.' The visa waiver policy aims to significantly enhance trade, boost tourism, and deepen interpersonal connections between the two countries. Existing direct flights operated by Royal Air Maroc will be increased to support this new agreement, potentially establishing daily connections between Casablanca and Accra. 'This will significantly boost tourism and trade, especially since Morocco is a very popular destination,' Ablakwa added. In their joint statement, both ministers affirmed their commitment to promoting tourism, trade, and economic development. They also revealed intentions to finalize a complete visa exemption agreement for holders of ordinary passports in the future. Beyond facilitating travel, the diplomatic engagement produced a seismic shift in Ghana's foreign policy. During the same visit, Ghana formally terminated its recognition of 'SADR,' the paper state proclaimed by the separatist Polisario Front, which it had supported since 1979. Ghana now fully backs Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, describing it as 'the only realistic and sustainable basis for a mutually acceptable solution' to the regional dispute. The ministerial meetings yielded several additional cooperation agreements. Both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations to enhance diplomatic coordination. Morocco pledged to increase scholarships for Ghanaian students from 90 to 140 annually across various disciplines through the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI). 'This is excellent news for us,' Ablakwa remarked. 'Our universities will also welcome Moroccan students, particularly those interested in English-language programs and African studies. We'll soon have a specific agreement in place to facilitate this academic cooperation.' Economic collaboration featured prominently in discussions, with plans for a joint business forum focusing on fertilizer supply—a strategic sector given Ghana's annual import bill of over $3 billion in agricultural products. Both countries will deepen cooperation in agriculture and food security, with special attention to Ghana's cocoa sector. 'Ghana currently spends nearly $3 billion annually on food imports. Our new President is committed to reversing that trend,' said Ablakwa. 'Morocco's expertise in agriculture, agri-food, and fertilizer production gives it a clear advantage. Moroccan experts will soon collaborate with their Ghanaian counterparts to determine the best fertilizer type for our needs.' Transportation links also received attention during Ablakwa's meeting with Morocco's Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh. Both parties discussed opportunities in air connectivity, maritime transport, and logistics. Ablakwa mentioned that President John Mahama hopes to make a state visit to Morocco soon, reciprocating King Mohammed VI's 2017 visit to Accra, during which 25 bilateral agreements were signed across key sectors. 'The borders in Africa must not be allowed to divide us—they can be bridges of connectivity. Diplomacy must make meaningful impact in the lives of the people we serve,' Ablakwa concluded. The current agreement builds on earlier discussions between the two countries. In March, Ablakwa met with Morocco's Ambassador to Ghana, Imane Ouaadil, where they initially agreed to introduce a visa waiver for travelers from both countries. This development goes in line with Ghana's broader visa liberalization policy. In January, then-President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the removal of visa requirements for all African passport holders effective January 1, making Ghana the fifth African country to implement such a policy after Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia, and Benin. Morocco and Ghana have steadily strengthened their bilateral relations in recent years. In January, Morocco was represented at Ghana's presidential inauguration, with Moroccan officials participating in the ceremony that saw President John Mahama take office. The two countries position their engagement as a model for strengthening intra-African partnerships.
