Ceuta is "inseparable" from Spain, says Felipe VI

Spain King Felipe VI reaffirmed on Tuesday the "undisputed" sovereignty of Spain over Ceuta, an Spanish enclave located in northern Africa and claimed by Morocco. This historic visit, marked by the enthusiastic welcome of the population, comes two and a half months after an unprecedented migration crisis on the territory. "Ceuta and Melilla are inseparable" from Spain, the sovereign declared amid the applause of the crowd. He also called the Spanish sovereignty over the two enclaves "non-negotiable," on the eve of a planned move to Melilla on Wednesday with Queen Letizia. "Faced with any risk, our duty is to defend them," he insisted at the end of the day. This was the first visit by a Spanish monarch to Ceuta since that of his father, Juan Carlos, in 2007, which had caused a diplomatic crisis with Rabat at the time. During his visit, Felipe VI also visited the cemetery of Sidi Embarek to pay homage to the several hundred migrants who died on July 30th and 31st while trying to reach Ceuta, mainly by swimming.