The Spanish Congress approved on Thursday a proposal that allows granting Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born in Western Sahara when this territory was under Spanish administration. The decision was made amid a moment of tension between Madrid and Morocco.
The measure may affect up to 110 thousand people, covering Sahrawis who were born in the territory during the Spanish colonial period, which ended in 1975. Western Sahara is a disputed territory between Morocco and the Polisario Front.
The decision has the potential to further complicate the already delicate relationship between Madrid and Morocco. The two countries have been maintaining diplomatic tensions recently, and this measure may worsen the dispute.
The Spanish Congress thus moved forward with the proposal that aims to recognize the right to Spanish nationality for this population, at a time when relations between Spain and Morocco are going through a particularly sensitive period.
