In a significant parliamentary decision, Spain's lower house approved legislation on Thursday aimed at granting citizenship to Sahrawis born during Madrid's colonial governance of Western Sahara. This move could exacerbate the already tenuous relationship between Spain and Morocco, as it formally recognizes the historical ties Spain has with the Sahrawi people. The bill garnered substantial support, passing with 168 votes in favor, 31 against, and 145 abstentions, according to parliamentary sources.
The implications of this legislation are considerable, as it not only extends citizenship rights to individuals born in Western Sahara during the colonial era but also to their descendants, potentially impacting between 70,000 and 110,000 Sahrawis, as reported by local media. This initiative was championed primarily by Spain’s ruling Socialist Party and its coalition partner Sumar, which introduced the bill. In contrast, the conservative People's Party opted to abstain from the vote, while the far-right Vox party opposed it.
Tesh Sidi, a member of the Sumar coalition and the first woman of Sahrawi descent to serve in Spain's parliament, expressed her enthusiasm for the legislation, stating, "With the adoption of this legislation, we are restoring — and I emphasize, restoring — the Spanish national identity card to those Sahrawis who once held it and from whom this state took it away." This statement underscores the restorative nature of the bill for those who were disenfranchised during the colonial period.
Spain’s colonial rule over Western Sahara lasted from 1884 until 1976, after which Morocco began to claim sovereignty over the region, a stance it maintains to this day. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, has been advocating for the recognition of an independent Sahrawi state, known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. A significant number of Sahrawis currently reside in refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, while others have settled abroad or remain in Western Sahara.
Strained Relations with Morocco
The timing of this vote is particularly delicate, as Spain-Morocco relations have recently been tested due to a surge of at least 70,000 migrants arriving in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in July. This incident has fueled ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Over the past few years, the dynamics between Madrid and Rabat have shifted significantly. Previously, Spain supported United Nations resolutions advocating for a referendum in Western Sahara; however, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government altered this stance in 2022 by endorsing Morocco's proposal for autonomy in the region. This shift aimed to alleviate tensions, with Madrid characterizing Rabat's plan as "serious, credible and realistic."
Nonetheless, the new citizenship legislation signals Spain's acknowledgment of its historical responsibilities toward the Sahrawi people, a perspective that Morocco is unlikely to accept, given its ongoing claims over the contested territory. The passage of this bill highlights the complexities of colonial legacies and the geopolitical intricacies that define Spain and Morocco's relationship today.
As reported by yen.com.gh.
