Many individuals across Africa have difficulty in asserting their rights because they are unable to access identity documents that prove that they are citizens. Putting in place barriers to accessing documents that prove nationality is far more common than explicit denial of nationality, but it can be just as damaging. Those without access to identification as nationals may be denied freedom of movement, access to education and land and other rights.
The barriers to accessing proof of citizenship may take the form of administrative obstacles. For example, in Swaziland, non-ethnic Swazis often experience lengthy processing delays in accessing documentation. In Kenya, a constitutional review process in 2002 heard numerous complaints from members of marginalised ethnic groups such as the Somalis and Nubians of being forced to face burdensome screening procedures not applied to other Kenyans in order to get access to national ID cards or passports. One of the most common causes of lack of identification as a citizen on attaining adulthood, whether of the state of residence or of another state, is the failure of state authorities to ensure birth registration and the issue of birth certificates to every child born in the territory, including children of refugees.
The UN conventions on refugees and on stateless persons, as well as the Organisation of African Unity Convention governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, provide for states to issue identity and travel documents to refugees (Article 27 of both the Conventions relating to the status of Refugees and of Stateless Persons, Article 13 of the OAU Refugee Convention). The same requirement is placed on states in relation to internally displaced persons by the UN Guiding Principles on IDPs and the Kampala Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Principle 20 and Article 13 respectively). UNHCR issued guidance on such documents in 1984. However, in practice, these documents may not be freely given, may not be recognised by all national authorities, or may be made available only if refugees accept restrictions on their freedom of movement.
In September 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals. Target 16.9 of the SDGs is “By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration”. The World Bank has taken up this idea in its initiative “identification for development” (ID4D).
By Frank Hersey Disruptive new technologies such as blockchain, and disruptive uses of existing technologies such as open-source alternatives, squared up against discussions of the appropriate use of digital ID, biometrics and their associated databases on the third and final…
By Ayodeji Adegboyega The Federal Government says it is determined to provide a lifelong unique identification for every individual physically residing in Nigeria and Nigerians in the diaspora within the next five years. The Director-General of the National Identity Management…
Walter Nyamukondiwa, Kariba Bureau THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is set to roll out a five-month national inquiry on identity documents to establish gaps and the extent of their unavailability among Zimbabweans. The inquiry is part of fostering and…
DEPUTY Minister for Home Affairs, Hamad Masauni yesterday disclosed that five million Tanzanians have been issued with national identification cards, with 13 million others still in the process. Masauni was responding to a question by Buyungu MP, Christopher Chiza (CCM),…
By Elizabeth Buhungiro Every Rwandan aged sixteen years and above is obligated to possess a national identity card. According to LAW N°14/2008 OF 04/6/2008 governing registration of the population and issuance of the national identity card, issuance of the national…
By Nico Gous Home affairs has two weeks to reinstate the ID number of a four-year-old child born in Polokwane and issue him with a new birth certificate. This is in terms of a directive issued by the public protector …
The Complainant is a South African citizen who had a child with a Zimbabwean national who held a Permanent Residence Certificate in the Republic at the time the child was born on 11 December 2014. Finds that: “The cancellation of…
Bouna, 17 adolescents membres du parlement des enfants et leaders d’enfants ont été instruits samedi à Bouna sur l’importance de l’Etat-civil, par la représentation régionale du Haut Commissariat des nations unies pour les réfugiés HCR du Bounkani. Cette activité financée…
Le vice-président de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD) en charge de la gouvernance économique, Célestin Monga, s’est dit vendredi « choqué » du non-enregistrement de 1,7 million d’enfants à l’état civil en Côte d’Ivoire, face à la presse à…
By Liz Orembo Nyangi, an 18-year-old woman in Kenya, was turned back for lack of documents when she went to register for Huduma Number. The unique number has been the talk in the village. Without it, she will not be…