Deprivation of Citizenship
Citizenship Law in Africa A Comparative Study
By Bronwen Manby
Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) Open Society Justice Intitiative
Second edition October 2010, incorporating revisions to the tables and other information relevant to Kenya, Libya, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan and Zimbabwe. Copyright © 2010 Open Society Institute. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-936133-29-1 Published by Open Society Foundations 400 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019 USA www.soros.org For more information, contact: AfriMAP P.O. Box 678, Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa www.afrimap.org Open Society Justice Initiative 400 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019 USA www.justiceinitiative.org Cover design by Dennis Ahlgrim/Ahlgrim Design Group Text layout and printing by COMPRESS.dsl Cover photo by Kambou Sia/AFP/Getty Images
Contents
Sources and acknowledgments Disclaimer Abbreviations Definitions v vii viii ix
Summary
African citizenship law Racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination Gender discrimination Naturalisation Dual citizenship Due process: Revocation of citizenship and expulsion of citizens International norms Recommendations
1
2 3 5 5 7 8 9 10
International norms on citizenship
The right to a nationality State succession and citizenship Discrimination and arbitrary deprivation of citizenship Due process in relation to expulsion The jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
18
18 21 23 25 25
Citizenship under colonial rule The basis of citizenship law today Right to a nationality Citizenship by descent Racial and ethnic discrimination Gender discrimination
Botswana: The Unity Dow Citizenship Case Reforms in North Africa Ethiopia: The constitution and law are gender neutral, but practice is not
28 32 34 39 42 45
48 50 53
iii
C I t I z e n S h I P l Aw In AfrICA
Proof of nationality
Supreme Court rules on proof of nationality in DRC
55
56
Dual citizenship
A change of
By Bronwen Manby
Africa Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AfriMAP) Open Society Justice Intitiative
Second edition October 2010, incorporating revisions to the tables and other information relevant to Kenya, Libya, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan and Zimbabwe. Copyright © 2010 Open Society Institute. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-936133-29-1 Published by Open Society Foundations 400 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019 USA www.soros.org For more information, contact: AfriMAP P.O. Box 678, Wits 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa www.afrimap.org Open Society Justice Initiative 400 West 59th Street New York, NY 10019 USA www.justiceinitiative.org Cover design by Dennis Ahlgrim/Ahlgrim Design Group Text layout and printing by COMPRESS.dsl Cover photo by Kambou Sia/AFP/Getty Images
Contents
Sources and acknowledgments Disclaimer Abbreviations Definitions v vii viii ix
Summary
African citizenship law Racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination Gender discrimination Naturalisation Dual citizenship Due process: Revocation of citizenship and expulsion of citizens International norms Recommendations
1
2 3 5 5 7 8 9 10
International norms on citizenship
The right to a nationality State succession and citizenship Discrimination and arbitrary deprivation of citizenship Due process in relation to expulsion The jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
18
18 21 23 25 25
Citizenship under colonial rule The basis of citizenship law today Right to a nationality Citizenship by descent Racial and ethnic discrimination Gender discrimination
Botswana: The Unity Dow Citizenship Case Reforms in North Africa Ethiopia: The constitution and law are gender neutral, but practice is not
28 32 34 39 42 45
48 50 53
iii
C I t I z e n S h I P l Aw In AfrICA
Proof of nationality
Supreme Court rules on proof of nationality in DRC
55
56
Dual citizenship
A change of