The Diplomat
The Government has confirmed its intention to open an extension of the Cervantes Institute in El Aaiún, Moroccan-controlled city in Western Sahara, according to the answer given to a question put by the Canary Coalition senator Fernando Clavijo.
In the reply, the government states that it has no plans to open a Cervantes centre, if the term ‘centre’ is understood, but recognises that the desire is to have an extension “provided that a space is located that meets the ideal conditions”.
In any case, the opening of such an extension is something that has been welcomed by Rabat, which sees it as a further step in Spain’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, after the turnaround made a year ago by the government of Pedro Sánchez, who described the Moroccan proposal for the former Spanish territory as ‘the most serious, realistic and credible’ way of resolving the conflict.
In contrast, the Polisario Front sees the Spanish authorities’ intention as negative and as a cession to Morocco, which would thus find a formula to legitimise what they consider an illegal occupation.
The government has so far given no specific date for the opening of this extension, which would be added to the offices that the institution headed by Luis García Montero has in 87 cities in 44 countries.
In 2016, Mariano Rajoy’s government had already studied the possibility of opening an extension of Cervantes in the Sahara, and in the face of opposition from the Polisario Front, raised the possibility of establishing, at the same time, a teaching centre in Rabuni, one of the Sahrawi refugee camps in the Tindouf area. However, the Covid-19 pandemic put these plans on ice.
In its response to Senator Clavijo, the government also indicates that it has no intention of opening a consulate in El Aaiún.
