Rabat – Spain’s Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, who is of Palestinian descent, publicly displayed the flag of the self-styled Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) inside her ministry’s headquarters in Madrid, according to converging reports.
A photo circulating online shows a sign displayed inside the ministry reading “España con el Sáhara” (Spain with the Sahara) and is accompanied by the Polisario flag.
This act has raised questions about Spain’s commitment to its recent policy shift regarding Western Sahara, especially given that the country has repeatedly expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the territory in recent years.
In March 2022, Spain altered its longstanding “neutral” stance on the Western Sahara conflict by endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed territory. The Spanish government described the plan as “the most serious, realistic and credible” basis for resolving the dispute.
This shift aligned Spain with Morocco’s position and was seen as a significant change in Spanish foreign policy.
Minister Rego’s recent display of the Sahrawi flag is seen as a direct challenge to Spain’s official position. The gesture has been interpreted as a critique of the government’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and an undermining of Spain’s diplomatic commitments.
This follows a previous controversial act in July 2024, when Rego received at her ministry the Coordination of Associations Supporting the Sahara (CEAS), along with the Polisario representative in Spain and children from the “Vacaciones en Paz” program.
Rego’s latest move comes as Morocco is experiencing an unprecedented diplomatic momentum on the Western Sahara issue. In recent months, several countries have publicly endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed region.
In June 2025, the UK officially backed Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal, describing it as the “most credible, viable, and pragmatic” solution to the long-standing conflict. This endorsement aligns the UK with France and the United States, both of which have previously recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
In addition, Ghana recently announced its support for Morocco’s plan, stating it views the proposal as the sole basis to settle the dispute within the framework of the United Nations. This position represents a shift from Ghana’s previous stance and aligns it with a growing number of African nations backing Morocco’s position.