Spain's lower house approved a bill to grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before 29 September 1977 and to facilitate naturalisation for their children, even if they have never lived in Spain. The measure passed 168-31 with 145 abstentions and now proceeds to the Senate. Sahrawi groups estimate 70,000–120,000 potential beneficiaries, and supporters call the move a correction of a "historical injustice." The vote occurs amid heightened Spain–Morocco tensions after a large migrant influx via Ceuta.
Spain Moves to Restore Citizenship for Tens of Thousands of Western Saharans Born Before 1977
Spain is granting citizenship to Western Saharans who lived under Spanish colonial rule, along with their children [File: Mark Thompson/Getty]
Spain's lower house of Parliament has approved a bill that would grant Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before 29 September 1977 and provide an expedited path to naturalisation for their children, even if they have never resided in Spain. The measure passed 168-31, with 145 abstentions, and now heads to the Senate where amendments are expected before a final vote.
What the Bill Does
The text grants Spanish nationality to people born in Western Sahara before Spain relinquished administration of the territory in 1975 and offers facilitated naturalisation for their descendants. Sahrawi organisations estimate that between 70,000 and 120,000 people could qualify, though the exact number is uncertain.
Political Context
The vote comes amid heightened tensions between Madrid and Rabat following a mass arrival of migrants — at least 70,000 people — from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July. Spain's left-leaning government has avoided directly blaming Morocco for that surge; right-wing parties accuse Rabat of using migration flows for political leverage. Morocco claims sovereignty over Western Sahara and consolidated control over much of the territory after Spanish rule ended.
Regional Dynamics
The long-running Western Sahara dispute pits Morocco against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks recognition of an independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Many Sahrawis live in refugee camps around Tindouf in western Algeria or in diaspora communities, while others remain in Western Sahara. The bill has produced mixed reactions in Morocco but did not prompt official condemnation from Rabat; Moroccan sources quoted Ramadan Messaoud — a member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs — saying Rabat has "no problem" with Sahrawis acquiring Spanish citizenship.
Parliamentary Politics
The bill was put forward by the left-wing Sumar coalition and supported by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialist Party. The conservative People's Party abstained, while the far-right Vox voted against the measure. Sumar MP Tesh Sidi, the first woman of Sahrawi origin to serve in Spain's Parliament, framed the measure as a corrective step:
"With the adoption of this legislation, we are restoring — and I emphasise, restoring — the Spanish national identity card to those Sahrawis who once held it and from whom this state took it away."
The bill will now be considered by the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to propose changes before it returns to the lower house for final approval.
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