Spain's New Sahrawi Citizenship Bill Reignites Sensitivities With Morocco

A new citizenship bill in Spain concerning Sahrawis has emerged as a point of sensitivity in relations between Madrid and Rabat, according to a report by Al Jazeera published on September 13, 2026.

The report describes the measure as touching on what it calls a "sensitive fault line" in ties between Spain and Morocco, though specific legislative details of the bill were not outlined in the available excerpt.

The issue is tied to the disputed status of Western Sahara, a territory over which Morocco claims sovereignty and where the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, has sought independence for decades. Spain was the former colonial administrator of the territory until 1975, a history that has left many Sahrawis with historical and legal ties to Spain.

Any Spanish legislation addressing citizenship for Sahrawis carries political weight given Morocco's sensitivity over the Western Sahara dispute and Spain's own delicate diplomatic balancing act between Rabat and advocates for Sahrawi self-determination, Al Jazeera noted.

Further details on the specific provisions of the citizenship bill, its legislative status, and official reactions from Moroccan or Spanish authorities were not included in the available source material.