King Felipe VI will make the first visit by a Spanish head of state to Ceuta and Melilla in 20 years. This visit marks a historic moment for the two Spanish cities in North Africa.
The monarch's visits will occur after the illegal entry of more than 70,000 people into Ceuta, which happened on July 30. This unprecedented migration episode created a humanitarian and political crisis on the Spanish southern border.
These will be Felipe VI's first visits to Ceuta and Melilla since assuming the position of head of state in 2014. The king thus succeeds his father, Juan Carlos I, who did not visit these autonomous cities during his nearly 40 years of reign.
The royal visit takes place in a context of diplomatic tension between Spain and Morocco, following the massive illegal immigration episode that tested the response capabilities of Spanish authorities in these autonomous cities.
