Author Archives for Bronwen Manby

Sudan withdraws citizenship from 3,548 foreigners

December 11, 2020 5:23 pm Published by Comments Off on Sudan withdraws citizenship from 3,548 foreigners

Sudan on Wednesday withdrew citizenship from 3,548 foreigners granted the nationality by the former regime of ousted President Omar Al-Bashir, the Sudanese Ministry of Interior said in a statement. In May 2019, the Sudanese Ministry of Interior announced forming a […]


The politics of citizenship – Social contract and inclusivity in Africa

December 11, 2020 10:12 am Published by Comments Off on The politics of citizenship – Social contract and inclusivity in Africa

In many African countries, citizenship offers civil rights to those who are included. At the same time, many – especially youth, migrants and other marginalised groups – often do not receive equal recognition in the social contract between state and […]


Birth registration gaps leave South Africans in limbo

December 10, 2020 8:22 pm Published by Comments Off on Birth registration gaps leave South Africans in limbo

UNHCR is working with the South African government to help people at risk of statelessness obtain vital identity documents. By Pumla Rulashe in Brits, South Africa | 10 December 2020 Mpho Modise can only guess her age and it embarrasses […]


Sudan cancels passports issued to foreigners by Bashir regime

December 10, 2020 5:34 pm Published by Comments Off on Sudan cancels passports issued to foreigners by Bashir regime

Sudan’s interim authorities have cancelled more than 3,500 passports issued to foreign residents by the government of ousted president Omar al-Bashir, the interior ministry announced on Thursday.  Sudanese media reported that the great majority of those affected were citizens of […]


El Burhan to withdraw Sudanese citizenship from over 3,000 people

December 10, 2020 5:27 pm Published by Comments Off on El Burhan to withdraw Sudanese citizenship from over 3,000 people

Yesterday, the head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, announced the decision to withdraw Sudanese citizenship from 3,548 naturalised residents, granted to them under the regime of former ruler Omar Al Bashir. The decision to withdraw […]


Uganda’s digital identification systems and processes in a protracted crisis: What can be done?

December 10, 2020 4:30 pm Published by Comments Off on Uganda’s digital identification systems and processes in a protracted crisis: What can be done?

What we discovered In Uganda, the National Identity System has its headquarters in Kololo with over 117 service centres countrywide. Conversely, there are still glaring gaps within the system leading to unnecessary delays in the acquisition of a legal National […]


Niger’s elections are unlikely to break the political deadlock

December 10, 2020 3:37 pm Published by Comments Off on Niger’s elections are unlikely to break the political deadlock

As the polls approach, deep divisions focus more on candidates’ personal backgrounds than Niger’s security and development challenges. by Ornella Moderan and Habibou Souley Bako On 13 and 27 December, some 7.4 million Nigeriens vote in the country’s local, legislative […]


Activists sound alarm over African biometric ID projects

December 10, 2020 12:00 pm Published by Comments Off on Activists sound alarm over African biometric ID projects

Biometric ID systems are proliferating across Africa but without the appropriate protections for citizens, say activists. By Madeleine Speed In January this year, Kenya’s High Court halted the roll-out of the country’s controversial biometric ID, the Huduma Namba, citing the […]


The Democratic Republic of Congo has ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

December 8, 2020 10:31 am Published by Comments Off on The Democratic Republic of Congo has ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

The Democratic Republic of Congo has deposited the ratification instruments of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). During a ceremony held today at the Headquarters of the African Union Commission (AUC), the Director of […]


The nationality and statelessness of nomads under international law: With a comprehensive examination of the nationality and statelessness of former Bedouin in Kuwait, Tuareg in Mali and Sama Dilaut (Bajau Laut) in Malaysia

December 8, 2020 10:25 am Published by Comments Off on The nationality and statelessness of nomads under international law: With a comprehensive examination of the nationality and statelessness of former Bedouin in Kuwait, Tuareg in Mali and Sama Dilaut (Bajau Laut) in Malaysia

Doctoral thesis by Heather Alexander, December 2020 Download: https://research.tilburguniversity.edu/en/publications/the-nationality-and-statelessness-of-nomads-under-international-l


Zimbabwe: Pupils in Zimsec nightmare

December 6, 2020 9:01 am Published by Comments Off on Zimbabwe: Pupils in Zimsec nightmare

Emmanuel Kafe ZIMBABWE School Examination Council (zimsec) examinations started in earnest last week but some candidates failed to sit due to failure to obtain national identity cards. John Mhandu (not his real name) missed two of  his Ordinary Level papers […]


South Africa: Home Affairs probes avalanche of blocked ID documents

December 5, 2020 8:58 am Published by Comments Off on South Africa: Home Affairs probes avalanche of blocked ID documents

By Mayibongwe Maqhina Cape Town – The Home Affairs Department is investigating close to a million “blocked” identity documents that were found to be suspicious, duplicate or fraudulently issued with falsified supporting documents. This was revealed by Home Affairs Minister […]