The demand for Spanish nationality for Sahrawis born during the period of Spanish administration of Western Sahara has taken a new step forward in the Spanish Congress of Deputies. After more than a year of parliamentary deadlock, the bill aimed at recognising this historic right has entered a key stage in its legislative process.
The convening of the Justice Committee’s working group scheduled for 30 June marks a decisive moment for an initiative seeking to address a legal situation arising from the decolonisation process of Western Sahara and Spain’s withdrawal from the territory in 1976.
Although the law has not yet been approved, the political agreement between different parliamentary groups and the support expressed by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares have opened the door for the text to move forward to the next legislative stages.
What does the future Sahrawi Nationality Law propose?
The bill aims to recognise the right to apply for Spanish nationality for Sahrawi people born in Western Sahara when the territory was under Spanish administration, before 26 February 1976.
The initiative is based on a historical consideration: for decades, thousands of Sahrawis maintained legal, administrative and family ties with Spain, but were left in a situation of uncertainty after the Spanish State abandoned the territory.
The text seeks to create a specific legal framework to address this situation and establish a procedure adapted to the historical reality of the Sahrawi people.
In addition, the proposal includes the possibility of extending this recognition to direct descendants of those born under Spanish administration, although the final details will depend on the final version approved by the Spanish Parliament.
Who could obtain Spanish nationality?
If the current wording is maintained, the main beneficiaries would be:
- Sahrawis born in Western Sahara before 26 February 1976, during the period of Spanish administration.
- Children and direct descendants of those individuals, according to the conditions established by the final law.
- Sahrawi citizens legally residing in Spain, who could benefit from a more favourable route to nationality through a possible reduction of the required residency period.
However, the law would not represent an automatic granting of Spanish nationality to the entire Sahrawi population. It would instead establish a procedure based on specific requirements and proof of the historical connection recognised by the legislation.
A change compared with current difficulties
Today, many Sahrawis face obstacles in obtaining Spanish nationality despite having been born when Western Sahara was administered by Spain or despite maintaining a historical relationship with the country.
Current Spanish nationality legislation provides different routes for acquiring nationality, but many Sahrawi cases have fallen into a zone of legal complexity due to the situation created after decolonisation.
The new law seeks to provide a specific solution to this reality, recognising that the Sahrawi case has particular historical characteristics.
One of the issues that will have to be defined during the parliamentary process is how applicants will prove their right to benefit from the law: which documents will be accepted, how birth in the former Spanish territory will be demonstrated, and which administrative procedures will apply.
The remaining parliamentary process
The Justice Committee’s working group will examine the amendments presented by political groups and prepare a report on the bill.
After that, the text must pass through the Justice Committee before reaching the Plenary Session of the Spanish Congress of Deputies for debate and voting.
If approved by Congress, it will still have to complete the corresponding legislative procedure before becoming a law in force.
Current expectations suggest that parliamentary debate could take place during July, although the timetable will depend on the progress of parliamentary work.
Timeline of a historic demand
2024 — The bill begins its parliamentary journey.
2025-2026 — The project remains blocked for more than a year.
28 April 2026 — The first meeting of the working group takes place within the Justice Committee.
25 June 2026 — Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares publicly expresses his support for granting nationality to Sahrawis born under Spanish administration.
30 June 2026 — The meeting of the working group responsible for preparing the report is scheduled.
July 2026 — The text could reach the Congress plenary session for debate and vote if the legislative process continues to advance.
Beyond an administrative issue
The future Sahrawi Nationality Law represents much more than a bureaucratic procedure. For many Sahrawi families, it represents recognition of a historic relationship with Spain that remained unresolved after the end of Spanish presence in the territory.
The initiative lies at the intersection of law, historical memory and international politics. Its approval would open a new legal pathway for thousands of people who believe that their connection with Spain was never fully addressed.
The 30 June meeting will not mark the end of the process, but it could become the most important moment so far for a proposal that remained blocked for months and is now seeking to become law.
Source : No te olvides del Sáhara Occidental
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