Spain's lower house backs citizenship bill for Western Saharans born before 1977
Spain's lower house of parliament has approved legislation that would grant citizenship to tens of thousands of Western Saharans born before 29 September 1977 and to their children. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it must be approved before becoming law. The measure concerns people born when Spain administered Western Sahara, a territory now largely controlled by Morocco.
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Lawmakers passed the bill by 168 votes to 31, with 145 abstentions. The text would allow Sahrawis born before the cut-off date to obtain Spanish nationality through naturalisation, even if they never lived in Spain. Supporters have described the proposal as a way to address what they call a historical injustice linked to Spain's colonial past in Western Sahara.
The exact number of potential beneficiaries is not known, but Sahrawi groups estimate that between 70,000 and 120,000 people could qualify. The issue has immediate legal and political significance because it affects a large population connected to a disputed territory. It also comes at a sensitive moment in Spain's relations with Morocco, which remain shaped by migration pressures and the unresolved status of Western Sahara.
Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975, when Spain ended its administration of the territory. Morocco later asserted control over the area, while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, has continued to seek recognition for an independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Many Sahrawis now live in refugee camps in Tindouf in western Algeria or in other countries, while others remain in Western Sahara.
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The parliamentary vote also lands against the backdrop of tensions involving Spain's North African enclaves and migration. The supporting material says Madrid has faced a migration crisis in Ceuta and the arrival of at least 70,000 migrants from Morocco in July. Spain's left-wing government has avoided directly blaming Morocco, while opposition figures have accused Rabat of using migration for political purposes.
What happens next depends on the Senate, which must still examine the bill before it can take effect. It remains unclear how quickly the upper house will act and whether the text will be amended. It is also not yet known how many people would ultimately apply or be recognised under the law if it is passed.
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