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Spanish Parliament Approves Bill Granting Citizenship to Western Saharans Born Before 1977
Just the facts
The Spanish Congress of Deputies passed a bill allowing Sahrawis born before 1977 under Spanish colonial administration in Western Sahara to apply for Spanish nationality. The legislation seeks to address historical legal status issues following Spain's withdrawal from the region in 1975. Under the proposed law, eligible individuals and their direct descendants will be permitted to obtain citizenship without relinquishing their existing identification documents. The measure received backing from a majority of parliamentary factions while undergoing diplomatic evaluation regarding Spain's bilateral relations with Morocco.
Why this is news
Spain's lower house of Parliament voted to approve legislation offering Spanish citizenship to tens of thousands of Sahrawis born in Western Sahara prior to 1977. The bill now proceeds to the Spanish Senate for final legislative review.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.