Spain Approves Citizenship for Sahrawis Born Under Spanish Rule
Lawmakers approved the measure by 168 votes, and it would also let descendants of eligible Sahrawis acquire Spanish citizenship.
- On Thursday, Spain's Parliament voted to grant citizenship to Sahrawis born during Spain's colonial administration of Western Sahara, approving the measure with 168 votes in favor, 31 against, and 145 abstentions.
- Spain controlled the North African territory from 1884 until 1976, and between 70,000 and 110,000 Sahrawis, many residing in refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, could be eligible for citizenship.
- Tesh Sidi of the Sumar coalition said, "We are restoring the Spanish national identity card to those Sahrawis who once held it," while the Socialist Party backed the bill and the People's Party abstained.
- Delicate relations with Morocco could worsen, as Morocco claims sovereignty over Western Sahara; Madrid previously backed Rabat's autonomy proposal as "serious, credible and realistic" in 2022.
- Descendants of eligible Sahrawis may also acquire Spanish citizenship under the new legislation, while the Algerian-backed Polisario Front continues seeking recognition for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
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48 Articles
In Madrid, on Thursday, the House of Representatives voted in favour of a bill designed to allow the naturalisation of tens of thousands of people from Western Sahara claimed by Morocco.
Western Sahara collectives have considered the measure a "historical repair", although they warn that Spanish nationality must also involve consular protection and defense of their rights.
Measure, which could benefit up to 120,000 people, their descendants, heads to Senate
The Lower House recognized the right to citizenship of those born before 1977 and their descendants
Madrid, Sep 10 (EFE).- The Spanish Congress approved this Thursday the law so that those born in Western Sahara before 1977 and their descendants can be Spanish, in a step that most of the Saharawi parties and representatives who attended the debate consider «historic».The law, of which according to the [...] The entry The Spanish Congress approves nationality for the Saharawis in a «historical step» was first published in HolaNews.
Frida Gómez reflects on the law that recognizes Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before September 29, 1977.
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