South Sudan: Ex-South Sudan MP demands citizenship restoration after continental ruling
Published: 7/Jan/2026
Source: Radio Tamazuj
A former South Sudanese lawmaker has called on the government to restore her nationality documents, months after the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruled that she was arbitrarily deprived of her South Sudanese citizenship and ordered the state to take corrective action.
Animu A. Risasi Amitai’s citizenship also became a subject of national controversy in 2021. President Salva Kiir revoked her appointment as a member of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly representing Morobo County in May 2021 shortly after she was nominated to parliament. She had been selected on the ticket of the umbrella group, Other Political Parties, under the country’s 2018 power-sharing agreement.
Her appointment at the time drew mixed reactions and sparked public debate across social media platforms, where several users questioned her nationality, alleging she was a Ugandan citizen. The Keliko community of Morobo County also formally rejected her appointment to represent Lujule Payam in the national legislative assembly.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Animu A. Risasi Amitai said her nationality certificate and passport were withdrawn in 2018 following media reports that questioned her citizenship after she worked in the office of the then First Vice President, General Taban Deng Gai. She said immigration authorities acted without due process or any formal communication.
“I was arbitrarily deprived of my instrument of nationality,” Risasi said. “They withdrew my nationality certificate and my passport based on reports they had received in the media.”
She said when she asked immigration officials for reasons, they failed to provide any written explanation or court authorization. According to Risasi, the action violated South Sudan’s Nationality Act, which does not give immigration authorities the power to adjudicate nationality disputes.
Read further: https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/ex-south-sudan-mp-demands-citizenship-restoration-after-continental-ruling