Saharawi Stateless Individuals Left Out of Regularization
The Saharawi community residing in the Balearic Islands has been dealt a significant blow as they find themselves excluded from the extraordinary immigration regularization process recently approved by the Spanish government. The final text of the regulation, published on April 15, explicitly omits stateless individuals—those who lack any recognized nationality—from its provisions. Alarmingly, 96% of the stateless individuals living in Spain are Saharawi, highlighting the community's vulnerability and their struggle for recognition.
Under current Spanish law, when a stateless person arrives in Spain, they have a maximum of one month to formally request recognition of their status. While this process is underway, they cannot be expelled from the country; however, they also lack the legal rights to reside or work, leaving them in a bureaucratic limbo that can last for up to three years. Catalina Rosselló, president of the Associació d’Amics del Poble Saharaui, expressed her dismay at this exclusion, stating, "Once again, the Spanish government intentionally relegates the rights of the Saharawi people in a manner that is utterly incomprehensible. We strongly lament and condemn this decision. It appears to be a political maneuver influenced by Morocco's interests, which undermines the most basic rights of the Saharawi people."
While the association does not have a precise estimate of how many individuals in the Balearic Islands will be affected by this exclusion, they note that there are numerous Saharawi workers in the region, particularly in Ibiza and Mallorca. Rosselló emphasized the importance of not forgetting that Western Sahara is a non-autonomous territory still undergoing a process of decolonization. Spain, as the administering power, holds a moral, legal, and political obligation to support the Saharawi people. She further pointed out that the United Nations acknowledges the Saharawi people's right to determine their future through a self-determination referendum.
For nearly 39 years, the Associació d'Amics del Poble Saharaui has tirelessly worked in the Balearic Islands to advocate for the Saharawi community. The organization facilitates summer visits for children from the refugee camps to the islands through the program "Vacances en Pau," allowing them to experience life outside the camps.
As reported by ultimahora.es.
