Spain advances citizenship bill for Western Saharans

Spain’s lower house of Parliament has approved a bill that would grant citizenship to tens of thousands of Western Saharans who were born while the territory was under Spanish administration. The legislation passed with a vote of 168 to 31, accompanied by 145 abstentions, marking a significant step in a long-standing legal and political debate. According to Al Jazeera English, the bill now moves to the Spanish Senate, where it is expected to face scrutiny and potential amendments before returning to the lower house for final approval.

The proposed law targets individuals born before September 29, 1977, and their descendants, allowing them to acquire Spanish nationality through naturalization even if they have never resided in Spain. Sahrawi advocacy groups estimate that between 70,000 and 120,000 people could benefit from this measure. Supporters of the initiative frame it as a correction of a historical injustice, arguing that Spain has a responsibility to acknowledge the ties formed during its colonial period in the disputed territory.

Colonial legacy and political division

Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, when Madrid relinquished administrative control to Morocco and Mauritania. The status of the territory remains a source of international tension, with Morocco claiming sovereignty and the Polisario Front advocating for independence. Within Spain, the bill has divided the political landscape. The ruling Socialist Party and its junior partner, Sumar, championed the measure, while the conservative People’s Party abstained and the far-right Vox party voted against it.

Tesh Sidi, a member of the Sumar coalition and the first woman of Sahrawi origin to serve in Spain’s Parliament, described the approval as a restoration of identity. She stated that the legislation returns the Spanish national identity to those who were previously stripped of it by the state. This perspective contrasts with the opposition’s view, which generally emphasizes the complexities of granting citizenship to individuals without a residential tie to Spain.

Diplomatic sensitivities with Rabat

The timing of the vote is particularly sensitive for Madrid’s relations with Rabat, which are currently strained by the migration crisis in Spain’s North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. In July, at least 70,000 migrants from Morocco arrived in Ceuta, an event that Spanish right-wing parties accused Rabat of orchestrating for political motives. The Spanish government has avoided direct accusations, but the diplomatic atmosphere remains tense.

Despite the broader regional tensions, the Moroccan government has not officially condemned the Spanish citizenship initiative. According to reports, Ramadan Messaoud, a member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, stated in July that Rabat had no issue with Sahrawis obtaining Spanish citizenship. He noted that many had already acquired it in previous years, suggesting a pragmatic approach to the bilateral relationship despite underlying disagreements over territorial sovereignty.

Legislative path ahead

The bill is not yet law and must clear the Senate, where amendments are anticipated. Following any changes, the text will return to the lower house for a final vote. Analysts suggest that the next few months will be critical for observing how the Spanish judiciary and diplomatic corps manage the implementation of the new citizenship rights. The outcome will likely serve as a test of Spain’s balancing act between honoring its colonial history and maintaining stable diplomatic relations with its northern neighbors.