In a significant legislative development, Spanish lawmakers have approved a bill that could potentially grant citizenship to tens of thousands of Sahrawis and their descendants, a decision that comes amidst already strained relations with Morocco. The bill, which has passed the lower house of Spain's parliament, now awaits approval from the Senate to become law.
The recent vote saw a majority in favor, with 168 votes supporting the bill, 31 opposing it, and 145 abstentions. This legislation is aimed at providing Spanish nationality to those Sahrawis born during the period of Spanish colonization of Western Sahara, specifically before September 29, 1977, along with provisions for their descendants to acquire citizenship through naturalization. Estimates suggest that the number of individuals eligible for citizenship could range from approximately 70,000 to over 100,000.
The implications of this decision could further complicate Madrid's already fragile diplomatic ties with Rabat, especially in light of recent border crises, such as the one in Ceuta. The ruling Socialist Party, along with its left-wing coalition partner Sumar, has shown support for this measure, while the conservative People's Party chose to abstain and the far-right Vox party expressed opposition. Notably, Sumar lawmaker Tesh Sidi, who has Sahrawi heritage and is the first woman of Sahrawi descent to serve in the Spanish parliament, emphasized that the legislation aims to restore the Spanish national identity card to those Sahrawis who once possessed it and were subsequently stripped of it by the state.
Historically, Spain maintained control over Western Sahara until 1976, after which Morocco claimed sovereignty over the territory. At present, Morocco occupies the vast majority of Western Sahara, while the Polisario Front, an indigenous resistance movement advocating for independence, operates from refugee camps located in Tindouf, Algeria. The plight of Sahrawis remains a pressing issue, with many displaced individuals living in challenging conditions across various regions, including refugee camps. The ongoing situation has kept Western Sahara on the United Nations' list of non-self-governing territories, drawing international attention and concern.
As reported by infomigrants.net.
