7 days ago
Morocco : Committee for the Liberation of Ceuta and Melilla rises from the ashes
Eleven years after its official dissolution, the Committee for the Liberation of Ceuta and Melilla is making a comeback—this time with a new name and broader objectives. Now known as the «Coordination Committee for the Defense of the Kingdom's Causes», the group aims to promote a renewed vision, according to its spokesperson Rachid Hssaine, who spoke to Yabiladi.
Asked about the timing of this revival, Hssaine explained, «The participation of a Polisario delegation at the recent congress of Spain's People's Party in Madrid was a decisive trigger for reactivating the Committee».
On the choice to rebrand, he said, «This decision was prompted by developments on both the national and regional scenes. Beyond advocating for the liberation of Ceuta, Melilla, and other islets occupied by Spain, and defending the Moroccan identity of the Sahara, we are also committed to fighting separatism in the Rif, which is backed by Algeria. We aim to persuade those swayed by Algerian propaganda to reconsider their stance».
The new committee is made up primarily of Rifains, a feature Hssaine says could help advance its mission.
In its founding statement, the Committee accused Algeria of «sowing discord by manipulating certain actors in the Rif region». It also reminded the self-proclaimed «Rifain Nationalist Party» that «Rifains have consistently demonstrated their loyalty to the Kingdom's core values and to the Alaouite throne».
Wind Foils Planned Action at Leila Islet
The committee held a meeting on Friday in Fnideq, gathering representatives of Moroccan associations and diaspora groups. Additional meetings are planned this weekend in Tangier.
Meanwhile, the group had intended to stage an action on Saturday at Leila islet (known in Spain as Perejil). «A group of young people was ready to take the rock, but strong winds on Saturday forced us to postpone the operation», Hssaine said.
Before its 2014 dissolution, the former «Committee for the Liberation of Ceuta and Melilla» organized symbolic incursions onto Mediterranean islets under Spanish control.
The newly rebranded «Coordination Committee for the Defense of the Kingdom's Causes» is led by former parliamentary advisor Yahya Yahya.
As a reminder, on March 11, the far-right Spanish party Vox submitted two written questions urging Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to publicly condemn Morocco's efforts to relaunch the former liberation committee.
