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Rabat – Reports that Spain removed its national flag from two small islets near the Moroccan coast are not accurateare not accurate, according to Spanish fact-checking platform Newtral.
The platform contacted the Ministry of Defense, which said the reports were “incorrect,” adding that “there have been no flags with raised cloth or metal poles on these islands for more than twenty years.”
Several news websites, including Spanish outlets, reported that Spain had quietly taken down its flag from El Bar and El Bahar, two uninhabited islands just off the Mediterranean coast near Al Hoceima, Morocco. Some called it an “unexpected move” and suggested it was a sign of Spain stepping back from the disputed territories.
The ministry clarified that instead of traditional flags, Spain uses metal structures painted in red and yellow, the colors of the Spanish flag. These are fixed on raised concrete platforms and serve as markers of Spanish presence. The ministry explained that weather and exposure to the sea may sometimes fade the paint, making the colors hard to see, but there has been no change in policy or removal of symbols.
The original claims speculated about a possible political shift, recalling past tensions such as the 2002 standoff over nearby Perejil Island.
But Spain’s official response shuts down these rumors. The Ministry of Defense confirmed there has been no official action or change to the status of the islands.
Despite improved relations between Morocco and Spain in recent years, disputed territories along the Mediterranean coast remain a sensitive issue.
These territories include several small islets and enclaves such as Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Peñón de Alhucemas, and the Chafarinas Islands, located just meters from Morocco’s northern coastline.
Though these rocky outcrops are uninhabited and of limited economic value, they are highly symbolic. Spain has retained control over them since the 19th century and considers them integral parts of its national territory.
However, many Moroccans view these remnants of colonial rule as anachronistic and assert that they should be returned to Moroccan sovereignty.
