Melilla border fence
The Melilla border fence is a separation barrier between Morocco and Spanish controlled Melilla. Constructed by Spain, its stated purpose is to stop illegal immigration and smuggling.
The razor wire barrier cost Spain €33 million (US$35 million ) to construct. It consists of 11 km (6 mi.) of parallel 3-metres (10-foot) high fences topped with barbed wire, with regular watchposts and a road running between them to accommodate police patrols. Underground cables connect spotlights, noise and movement sensors, and video cameras to a central control booth. Its height is currently being doubled to 6 m. In September and October 2005, during a crisis of mass intrusions of African immigrants camping on nearby mount Gurugu, the Spanish government decided to rush the height doubling and to add devices to harmlessly slow intruders.
In October 2005, over 700 subsaharian migrants tried to enter Spanish territory from the Moroccan border. Many of them were shot in the back alledgedly by the Moroccan Gendarmerie. There have also been accusations of the Spanish Police opening fire. Amnesty International and Médecins Sans Frontières have accused the Moroccan government of dumping over 500 refugees in the Sahara Desert without food or water supplies.
Morocco has objected to the construction of the barrier, as it considers Melilla to be occupied Moroccan land, and has sought full devolution of the territory since 1975. Melilla has been an integral part Spain since 1497.