Spain’s Parliament backs citizenship for Western Saharans born before 1977
Spain's lower house of Parliament approved a bill to grant Spanish nationality to Western Saharans born before Sept. 29, 1977 and to their children, even if they have never lived in Spain. The measure passed 168-31 with 145 abstentions and now moves to the Senate, where changes are expected before final approval.
Why It Matters
The legislation would extend citizenship to tens of thousands of people tied to a former Spanish colony, addressing a long-standing colonial-era grievance while occurring amid strained relations with Morocco after a recent migration surge into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.
Key Facts
- lower-house-vote: Approved 168-31, with 145 abstentions
- who-would-benefit: Sahrawis born before September 29, 1977 and their children (by naturalisation), even if they never resided in Spain
- estimated-number-of-beneficiaries: Sahrawi groups estimate between 70,000 and 120,000 people
- next-step: Bill goes to the Spanish Senate; amendments are expected before it returns to the lower house
- supporting-parties: Spain's Socialist Party and Sumar (which filed the initiative) backed the bill
Spain's Congress of Deputies has approved legislation to grant Spanish nationality to people from Western Sahara who were born before Sept. 29, 1977, and to their children through naturalisation. The lower house voted 168 in favor, 31 against, with 145 abstentions. The measure now proceeds to the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to propose amendments before the text returns to the lower chamber for final ratification.
Supporters of the initiative say it remedies an injustice dating to Spain's colonial administration of Western Sahara. Estimates from Sahrawi organisations put the potential number of beneficiaries between 70,000 and 120,000, though official counts have not been provided. Tesh Sidi, a member of the Sumar coalition and the first woman of Sahrawi origin to sit in Spain's Parliament, framed the bill as restoring documents once held by Sahrawis under Spanish rule.
The vote split along party lines: the Socialist Party and Sumar backed the proposal, the conservative People’s Party abstained, and the far-right Vox voted against it. Observers note the timing is politically sensitive given recent tensions with Morocco, including a July surge of migrants into Ceuta that brought at least 70,000 people and heightened diplomatic strain between Madrid and Rabat.
Western Sahara was administered by Spain until 1975, after which Morocco and Mauritania took over administration under agreements that ended Spanish rule. Morocco asserts sovereignty over the territory, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks recognition for an independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Many Sahrawis live in refugee camps around Tindouf in Algeria or elsewhere, with others remaining in Western Sahara. Moroccan officials have not formally condemned the Spanish move; Ramadan Messaoud, of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs and president of the Sahrawi Association for Human Rights, was quoted as saying Rabat had "no problem" with Sahrawis obtaining Spanish citizenship and that some had done so in recent years.
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Original source: Al Jazeera