Morocco restores power to Andalusia

In an important and moving action, laden with multiple historical and civilizational implications, the Kingdom of Morocco provided urgent technical support to Spain to restore electricity supply in the region of Andalusia,following a massive power outage that affected the energy infrastructure in the south of the country.

This initiative, carried out through the electrical interconnection between the two countries, was not merely a technical gesture, but embodied profound symbolic and historical dimensions, evoking the complex relations between the two shores of the Mediterranean, especially between Morocco and Andalusia, which share a long history of civilizational, religious, and cultural interaction.

In the early hours of the crisis that hit the Spanish power grid, the Moroccan Ministry of Energy announced its immediate availability to activate the electricity interconnection lines with Spain, which extend across the Strait of Gibraltar. In effect, a quantity of energy was transferred from the Moroccan grid to the Andalusian grid, helping to restore service in several cities in record time.

This event takes on profound symbolic significance when one considers the historical relationship between Morocco and Al-Andalus. Al-Andalus was not only a land ruled by Muslims for more than eight centuries, but also a bridge of civilization that transmitted the sciences, philosophy, and arts of the Arab East to Europe, with Morocco playing a central role in this cultural movement.

Today, as Morocco restores electricity to this geographical area, the gesture symbolizes the return of light to a land that was once a beacon of Islamic and humanist civilization.

Throughout history, Morocco has been the strategic backing of Al-Andalus. When the Christian campaigns of the Reconquista began, the Taifa kings turned to Morocco for help, as did Al-Mu'tamid Ibn Abbad when he asked Yusuf Ibn Tashfin for help in facing the Castilian armies at the Battle of Sagrajas in 1086, a key turning point in Andalusian history.

In the 13th century, this relationship was reiterated when a large number of Andalusians took refuge in Morocco after the fall of Granada in 1492. Moroccan cities such as Tetouan, Fez, and Chefchaouen, among others, still retain Andalusian features in their architecture, music, and even language.

In this context, various Spanish historical and academic studies agree that “Morocco was not only a geographical refuge for the Andalusians, but also a spiritual and cultural extension of a civilization that disappeared in the north but survived in the south.”

The Moroccan initiative is also part of a new dynamic in international relations, where “soft diplomacy” is becoming increasingly important. Instead of traditional political confrontations, states today are turning to practical cooperation and solidarity in times of crisis as a way to rebuild trust and strengthen common interests.

In this sense, Morocco's support can be interpreted as a smart strategic move that strengthens its presence in the Euro-Mediterranean energy dossier and paves the way for broader cooperation on issues such as green hydrogen, renewable energies, and energy security.

On the other hand, the Moroccan initiative also had an undeniable humanitarian dimension. At a time when thousands of Spanish families were suffering in the dark, help came from a southern neighbor that has traditionally been perceived as needy, but this time became a provider and a source of solidarity.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his gratitude in an official statement: “We are deeply grateful for Morocco's rapid support. This is a moment that demonstrates the strength and depth of the ties between our countries, and we look forward to further strengthening this cooperation in the future.”

Morocco's assistance to Spain in restoring electricity in Andalusia is much more than technical support. It is a symbolic act that reflects the depth of the historical and cultural ties that unite the two peoples, and a reminder that geography and history demand that countries in the south and north cooperate, not confront each other.

Morocco has brought light back to Andalusia, but more importantly, it has rekindled the value of neighborliness, the sense of cooperation, and the spirit of a history that never fades.

Abdelhay Korret. Moroccan journalist and writer