Spain denies blocking citizenship for Sahrawis born before 1976

Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, on Wednesday denied rumors of an alleged government «blockage» over granting Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born before 1976.

The Spanish government is «fully in favor of granting Spanish nationality to Sahrawis born under Spanish administration. There is no problem, no blockage, and as Foreign Minister, I support it», he said during a plenary session in the lower house of parliament, in response to a question from a lawmaker with the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC).

Far-left parties have accused Pedro Sánchez’s government of obstructing efforts to grant nationality to Sahrawis born under colonial rule, claiming it is bowing to pressure from Morocco.

For its part, the Polisario is hardly enthusiastic about the issue. Naturalizing Sahrawis living in the Tindouf camps would deprive it of an important lever of influence over this population born under Spanish administration, whom it keeps confined to Algerian territory. It is worth recalling that these residents do not have the refugee status that the UN generally grants to displaced people.

The minister also reiterated his refusal to see the Western Sahara conflict drag on. This was a position he had already expressed in April 2025, which at the time drew hostility from the Polisario and its supporters in Spain.

Albares stressed that Spain’s priority is «to support the parties in reaching a political solution and to back the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, so that he can put forward a resolution».