Spain's New Citizenship Bill for Sahrawis Sparks Diplomatic Tensions with Morocco

In a significant move, Spain's Congress has passed a bill that creates a pathway to citizenship for Sahrawis born in Western Sahara during the time of Spanish colonial rule. The legislation was approved with 168 votes in favor and 31 against, while 145 members abstained. Before becoming law, it must be ratified by the Senate.

Details of the Citizenship Measure

The proposed legislation allows individuals born in Western Sahara before September 29, 1977, to apply for Spanish nationality without the usual residency requirements. This includes first-degree descendants. For Sahrawis already residing legally in Spain, the residence requirement is reduced from ten years to just two years. Estimates suggest that between 70,000 and 110,000 individuals could be eligible for this citizenship.

Impact on Spain-Morocco Relations

Morocco is closely monitoring this development, as the bill could foster a new relationship between Spain and those with ties to Western Sahara. The measure does not alter the territorial status of Western Sahara nor does it recognize the Polisario Front or an independent Sahrawi state, but it raises concerns in Rabat regarding Spain's historical ties to the territory. This legislation follows Spain's recent shift in policy towards Morocco, where it endorsed the latter's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations.

Source: www.aljazeera.com