Spain’s Parliament backs citizenship for Western Saharans born before 1977

What the report says

Spain’s lower house of Parliament has approved legislation that would open Spanish citizenship to tens of thousands of Western Saharan people born before Sept. 29, 1977, along with their children. The bill now moves to the Senate, and it would still need to clear that chamber and return for final approval before becoming law. According to Al Jazeera’s report, the vote passed 168-31 with 145 abstentions.

The measure applies to Sahrawis who were born while Spain administered Western Sahara as a colony, a period that ended in 1975. Supporters say it is meant to address a long-standing historical grievance tied to Spain’s withdrawal from the territory. Sahrawi groups estimate that roughly 70,000 to 120,000 people could eventually benefit, though the exact figure is not known.

The debate comes amid sensitive Spain-Morocco relations, including tensions over migration and the status of Spain’s North African territories. Western Sahara remains disputed: Morocco claims sovereignty, while the Polisario Front seeks independence for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Many Sahrawis live in refugee camps in Algeria or outside the region.

The initiative was backed by Spain’s Socialist-led government and filed by the junior left-wing Sumar coalition. The conservative People’s Party abstained and Vox opposed it. A Sumar lawmaker of Sahrawi origin described the bill as restoring an identity document that was taken away, underscoring the symbolic weight of the measure.