Ceuta.

This is coolbert:

Ceuta yesterday! Ceuta today! Ceuta tomorrow? Eternal Ceuta.

Came across this one quite by accident. Prince Henry the Navigator [Portuguese] would have understood it all well. The modern context compared to the old.

From the "Daily Mail" and thanks to same. Story by WALTER FINCH and MATTHEW LODGE FOR MAILONLINE | UPDATED: 25 June 2022.

Storming of the border of the Spanish enclave Africa. Melilla. African migrants seeking entry into Europe with the promise of asylum. 

"Migrants are piled up by a border fence surrounded by riot police in shocking scenes after more than 2,000 stormed fence to break into Spanish enclave bordering Morocco, killing 23"

* "Dozens of migrants piled up at a border fence in the province of Nador, Morocco"

* "Human rights groups say some died after being left with no medical treatment"

* "It comes after 2,000 migrants tried to storm into the Spanish enclave of Mililla"

***GRAPHIC CONTENT - CONTAINS IMAGES  SOME MAY FIND DISTURBING***

NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY:

In this case think Ceuta rather than Mililla. Ceuta LONGEST military siege in history!

"The sieges of Ceuta (also known as the thirty-year siege) were a series of blockades by Moroccan forces of the Spanish-held city of Ceuta on the North African coast. The first siege began on 23 October 1694 and finished in 1720 when reinforcements arrived. During the 26 years of the first siege, the city underwent changes leading to the loss of its Portuguese character. While most of the military operations took place around the city walls . . . there were also small-scale penetrations by Spanish forces at various points on the Moroccan coast, and the seizure of shipping in the Strait of Gibraltar. The city was placed under a second siege in 1721 until 22 April 1727. The engagements are considered to be the longest siege in history."

In Morocco they call them the occupied 'Sebtah and Melilah'. The rest of the world knows them as the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.

Henry the Navigator [Portuguese] capturing the fortress of Ceuta. 1415. As it was in the beginning.

"They are the only piece[s] of European territory on mainland Africa - a political and legal reality that has never been recognized by Morocco, which has continued to demand their return, along with four other smaller territories in the Mediterranean all in the narrow strait of Gibraltar."

BAD optics for Spain and Morocco both. Hard say why the Spanish just don't relinquish the territories of the two little flyspeck bits of land. Equate the assets and the debits. Just not worth it anymore.

coolbert.