Spanish Parliament approves citizenship bill for pre‑1977 Western Saharans

Madrid – Spain’s lower house of parliament has approved a bill that would extend Spanish citizenship to tens of thousands of Sahrawis, a move that now proceeds to the Senate for further deliberation. The legislation, championed by the governing coalition, seeks to regularise the status of Sahrawi residents who have lived in Spain for extended periods, many of whom arrived as refugees or migrants following the protracted conflict over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony now administered by Morocco and the self‑declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Supporters argue the measure addresses long‑standing integration challenges and aligns with Spain’s broader immigration policies, while critics warn it could strain diplomatic relations with Morocco and complicate the already delicate Western Sahara issue. The Senate is expected to debate the proposal in the coming weeks, after which it will require approval from both chambers before the law can be enacted.