| Plazas de Soberanía (translates as 'Places of Sovereignty', formerly known as Spanish North Africa) - This is a collection of small North African city states and islands, which all surround Morocco, and which have a combined total population of just over 140,000. They have been controlled by Spain for many centuries, who began the conquest of this area from the time of the Reconquista, an 800 year period in history which saw the Iberian peninsula gradually being taken back from North African Muslims, between 722 and 1492. Spain held great importance over having control over that part of Africa, to stop any future invading tribes before they even left the African continent, but nowadays it is unclear as to what their value is. Morocco claims sovereignty over the small city states of Ceuta and Melilla, and over some local island groups too, including Islas Chafarinas and Peñón de Alhucemas. Morocco also claims two other island groups, Isla de Alborán and Isla Perejil, both of which are geographically close to the others, but are not officially part of the Plazas de Soberanía group of territories. Spain maintains sovereignty over all of these islands and city states, and controls them too. |
