Madrid, Spain – For Mohamed Mohamedna, it was a historic moment. On Thursday, the Spanish parliament backed citizenship for Western Saharans born in the North African territory when Madrid ruled it as a colony. Like other campaigners, 52-year-old Mohamedna had been waiting for years for this gesture.
Spain’s lower house of parliament overwhelmingly voted for the move, which analysts say could benefit more than 100,000 Sahrawis. Mohamedna hopes he will soon be able to apply for a Spanish passport. But the bill, which requires Senate approval before becoming law, comes amid tensions between Spain and Morocco after more than 70,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in July.
Rabat on Thursday refuted claims by Spanish opposition parties that it had been involved in the mass crossing which caused an international diplomatic row. The Moroccan foreign ministry said, “Why continue to level accusations against Morocco when no evidence, facts or reports establish any involvement on the part of Moroccan authorities?” From 1884 until 1976, Western Sahara was under Spanish colonial rule. Morocco has long laid claim to the area, which the United Nations classifies as a non-self-governing territory.
Attempts to organise a referendum on whether it should become independent or a part of Morocco have lagged for years. Spanish law says it will “recognise the Sahrawi population’s ties to Spain” and would also allow descendants of those granted citizenship to gain it. According to representatives from the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, the independence movement which has fought for freedom for the territory from Morocco, some 110,000 Sahrawis could be eligible for Spanish citizenship.
Once the law takes effect, applicants have three years in order – extendable to four years – to seek citizenship. Up to 70,000 Sahrawis can get Spanish citizenship as well as their direct descendants – their sons or daughters – who will have five years to apply after their parents are registered. Sahrawis will be eligible to access nationality by residence via an accelerated route, needing only two years of legal residence in Spain instead of 10 years generally required for nationality.
This will put them on equal standing with citizens of most Latin American countries, Sephardic Jews, nationals of the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal. The bill was passed by 168 votes in favour with 31 votes against. The ruling Socialists, the far-left Sumar and other regional parties supported the bill, while the opposition conservative People’s Party (PP) abstained and the far-right Vox party voted against it.
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