Spain's Congress of Deputies has given its backing to a law that would grant Spanish citizenship to Western Saharans born while the territory was under Spanish administration. The vote, held on Thursday, marks a significant step in a long-running campaign by Sahrawi activists and their political allies.
The legislation applies to individuals born before 29 September 1977 – the date Madrid considers the effective end of decolonisation – and to their children. Crucially, it also covers those who do not currently reside in Spain, removing a major obstacle that had forced many applicants to wait years for naturalisation.
While the exact number of beneficiaries remains unclear, estimates suggest around 80,000 Sahrawis could qualify, with some projections reaching nearly 200,000 when descendants are included.
A historic correction or a political gamble?
The bill passed with 168 votes in favour and 31 against. The centre-right People's Party (PP) abstained, as did the Catalan pro-independence Junts, while the far-right Vox voted against. Notably, both the PP and Vox had supported the measure in its early stages, when the governing Socialist Party (PSOE) was still hesitant to advance it.
Tesh Sidi, an engineer born in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, and a member of Sumar – the junior partner in Spain's coalition government – championed the bill. She framed it as a matter of historical justice.
“We are correcting a historic injustice: cutting the process down to two years once you have legal residence in Spain. Until now, Sahrawis had to wait 10, 14, or even 24 years to apply for Spanish nationality, despite having a Spanish father and legal residence,” Sidi said. “Abstaining or voting no means siding with Morocco.”
Applicants will have three years from the law's official publication to apply, provided they can prove their status with valid documentation. Acceptable evidence includes a Spanish ID card, an entry in the UN-verified census compiled for a planned (but never held) referendum on Western Sahara's status, or a birth certificate. Less formal documents – such as school records, retirement pension paperwork, a Spanish driver's license, or hospital and medical records – can also be used.
Diplomatic fallout with Morocco
The move carries significant implications for Spain's relationship with Morocco, which has controlled most of Western Sahara since 1975. The United Nations still considers the territory non-self-governing, and the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, continues to seek independence.
Madrid shifted its long-standing neutrality in 2022, endorsing Rabat's autonomy plan as part of a diplomatic rapprochement. That policy has come under intense scrutiny following the late July migrant surge into Ceuta, when thousands of people crossed from Morocco in a deadly rush. The leftist government has avoided blaming Morocco – which claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla – but the right accuses Rabat of orchestrating the influx for political motives.
The citizenship law now moves to the Senate for further debate. If approved, it will represent a concrete break with decades of Spanish policy, even as the government treads carefully around its delicate ties with Morocco. For Sahrawi communities in Spain and the refugee camps, it offers a tangible recognition of a shared colonial history – and a legal foothold in Europe.
