AI Generated Image
Spain approves citizenship for Sahrawis born under Spanish rule
Reuters • • world
Key Points:
- Spain's lower house approved legislation granting citizenship to Sahrawis born during Spanish colonial rule of Western Sahara, potentially affecting 70,000 to 110,000 people and allowing their descendants to acquire citizenship as well.
- The bill was supported by the ruling Socialist Party and left-wing Sumar coalition, while the conservative People's Party abstained and far-right Vox opposed it.
- This move aims to restore Spanish national identity cards to Sahrawis who previously held them, as emphasized by Sumar MP Tesh Sidi, the first Sahrawi-origin woman in parliament.
- The legislation risks straining Spain's delicate relations with Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara and disputes the territory with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front independence movement.
- Spain had previously shifted its stance in 2022 to support Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, easing tensions after years of backing a UN-backed referendum for Sahrawi self-determination.
