Spanish lawmaker Enrique Santiago, spokesperson for Izquierda Unida (IU) in Congress, expressed firm support for the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people during an event held in the refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, on April 9, 2026.
According to the Prensa Latina portal, Santiago underscored the urgent need to fulfill the United Nations’ promise of holding a referendum on Western Sahara’s self-determination, a commitment that has lingered unresolved for decades.
In the context of the 50th anniversary celebration of the proclamation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which occurred on February 27, 1976, the Spanish parliamentarian highlighted Morocco’s occupation of Sahrawi territory as a violation of International Law.
He openly criticized the position of the Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, accusing it of endorsing this occupation through policies that, according to Santiago, disregard the legitimacy of Sahrawi claims.
The lawmaker expressed solidarity with the Polisario Front, the organization representing the Sahrawi people, and recalled 50 years of resistance in the face of abuses and forced exile since the territory was transferred to Morocco in 1976.
Santiago also drew attention to the dramatic situation of the Sahrawis, many of whom remain in refugee camps in the Algerian desert, while others, in Moroccan-occupied areas, face systematic human rights violations.
He expressed hope that the next SADR anniversary could be celebrated in a Western Sahara free from any colonial occupation.
Furthermore, the parliamentarian accused Spain of having negotiated Sahrawi territory in agreements that disregard international norms, handing over the region to Morocco in a manner he deems illegitimate.
As of the time of the event in Tindouf, there have been no official pronouncements from the Spanish government or Moroccan authorities in response to the lawmaker’s criticisms.
The Western Sahara issue remains one of the most protracted conflicts under UN mediation, with persistent tensions between the Polisario Front, which seeks independence, and Morocco, which claims sovereignty over the region.
The Spanish parliamentarian insisted that the international community must press for a definitive solution, respecting the Sahrawis’ right to decide their political future.
The history of Western Sahara dates back decades of disputes, since Spain, the former colonial power, left the territory in 1975, paving the way for Moroccan occupation.
Since then, thousands of Sahrawis have lived in precarious conditions, while the UN-promised referendum remains unscheduled.
Enrique Santiago’s words echo a call for justice that, according to him, can no longer be ignored by governments and international bodies.
The debate over Western Sahara continues to divide opinions, with Algeria supporting the Sahrawi cause and Morocco maintaining control over a large part of the territory, including strategic natural resources.