Lesotho: Asemie loses battle for citizenship

Published: 20/Oct/2012
Source: Sunday Express (Maseru)

By Nat Molomo

MASERU — The Court of Appeal has ruled that a High Court judge erred when she gave an order compelling the government to grant Eyob Asemie citizenship.

Asemie, an Ethiopian businessman, has been fighting to be granted Lesotho citizenship for the past two years.

In August High Court judge Justice “Maseforo Mahase ordered the home affairs ministry to give Asemie a naturalisation certificate and declare him a Lesotho citizen. She also ordered that Asemie should not be charged for his alleged illegal conduct before the order.

The Ministry had however appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the judge had erred in issuing those orders. On Friday Justice Noel Hurt agreed with the ministry’s argument.

Other appellants were the military police, army commander, commissioner of police, Minister of Police, and the Attorney-General.

Justice Hurt said Justice Mahase should not have issued the order to grant Asamie citizenship because there was clear evidence that he had not met the requirements to be granted such status.

Read further: https://sundayexpress.co.ls/asemie-loses-battle-for-citizenship/

Themes: Naturalisation and Marriage, Loss and Deprivation of Nationality, Nationality and Refugees
Regions: Lesotho
Year: 2012