Spain’s Sahrawi citizenship route tests Morocco relations
Spain’s Congress approved a bill creating a special route to Spanish citizenship for Sahrawis born in Western Sahara before 1977, with first‑degree descendants included and a two‑year residence requirement instead of the usual 10. The measure does not change territorial status or recognize an independent Sahrawi state, but it could widen Spain’s ties to Sahrawi communities and EU citizens with links to Western Sahara, potentially complicating Madrid–Rabat relations. Its timing follows Spain’s 2022 shift toward supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan and fuels domestic debate over Spain’s colonial past and sensitivities around Ceuta and Melilla.