# Why Spain still holds territorial enclaves in North Africa

Al Jazeera explains why Spain retains the North African cities of Ceuta and Melilla, outlining their long colonial and military history. These enclaves remain crucial because they are flashpoints for Spain-Morocco relations and serve as a major migration gateway from Africa into the European Union.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/3/why-does-spain-have-enclaves-in-north-africa?traffic_source=rss) — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:02:43 +0000