Spain’s Parliament backs citizenship for Western Saharans born before 1977
Summary
Spain’s Parliament has approved a law to give citizenship to tens of thousands of Western Saharans born before 1977, when Spain controlled the territory. The law still needs approval from the Senate before it becomes official.Key Facts
- Spain’s lower house of Parliament voted 168-31 in favor of the law, with 145 abstentions.
- The citizenship applies to Sahrawis born before September 29, 1977, and their children, even if they never lived in Spain.
- Sahrawi groups estimate 70,000 to 120,000 people could get Spanish nationality.
- Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, after which Morocco and Mauritania took control.
- Morocco claims Western Sahara, but the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, wants an independent Sahrawi state.
- There have been recent tensions between Spain and Morocco, partly due to a large migrant arrival in Ceuta from Morocco.
- The bill was supported by Spain’s Socialist Party and left-wing partners, while the conservative People’s Party abstained and far-right Vox opposed it.
- Moroccan officials have said they do not oppose Sahrawis gaining Spanish citizenship.
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