Spain reversed its position on supporting an independent referendum on Western Sahara in 2021.
Posted by Behind the Bastards, Checked
- Sources
- 2 contradict3 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 70%
Behind the BastardsOct 3, 2026
Sources support that Spain reversed its Western Sahara position, but they place the reversal in March 2022, when Sánchez backed Morocco's autonomy plan, not in 2021. The 2021 episode (Ghali's hospital treatment) was read by Morocco as a policy shift, which Madrid denied. The claim's central date is therefore contradicted, though the reversal itself is supported.
Minor detail. The sources confirm the claim; only a minor detail differs, such as a name's spelling, a title's wording or a rounding.
What we found
Contradicts. The AP reports that Spain declared a new stage with Morocco on 18 March 2022 after Sánchez's letter endorsing Morocco's autonomy plan as the basis for resolving the dispute.[1]
Contradicts. IDSA states that Spain announced its shift in Western Sahara policy on 18 March 2022, after having remained neutral in earlier years.[3]
Supports. Multiple sources describe Spain moving from supporting a referendum on self-determination to backing Morocco's autonomy proposal, which is the reversal the claim describes.[4][5][6]
Context. In 2021, Spain's decision to give medical care to Polisario leader Brahim Ghali angered Morocco, which recalled its ambassador and loosened border controls. Madrid denies that this reflected a policy shift.[2][3][7]
Context. The claim's 2021 date matches the Ghali episode that Morocco read as a shift, but the formal change in position came a year later, in 2022.[6][7]
Sources
7 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 5 not rated
- 1Spain changes stance, backs Moroccan rule in Western ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: contradicts
- 2Morocco's tougher stance emboldened by U.S. Sahara movereuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 3Spain's Policy Shift on Western Saharaidsa.in · not rated · cited for: contradicts, context
- 4Between principles and national interest: 50 years since ...realinstitutoelcano.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Spain changes its policy on the Western Sahara issuethedeeping.eu · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6Morocco says Spain backs its plans on Western Saharaamp.dw.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 7[PDF] Inside Spain Nr 184 - Real Instituto Elcanomedia.realinstitutoelcano.org · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Spain has not reversed its 2021 decision regarding Western Sahara.True
- Algeria and Spain have reestablished relationships in 2026.True
- Spain has funded Moroccan border securitization.True
- Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has legalized at least one million illegal immigrants in the country.Mixed
- Spain passed an amnesty for hundreds of thousands of people who had illegally migrated there earlier this year.True