Extracts on African countries:<\/p>\n
Action 1. Resolve major situations of statelessness<\/p>\n
In Kenya<\/strong>, on 5 and 6 December 2025, the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Internal Security, supported by UNHCR and NGO partner Haki Centre, held a public participation exercise with Rundi and Rwandan stateless communities in Kwale, to update them on the progress on amendment of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act. The amendment will provide a legal framework for registration of stateless individuals in Kenya. The Committee committed to push for an expedited process and make recommendations on interim measures for protection and access to services for stateless individuals pending their registration as citizens.<\/p>\n Action 2. Ensure that no child is born stateless<\/p>\n On 1 September, Burkina Faso<\/strong> adopted a new Code of Persons and the Family introducing significant reforms on civil registration, identification and protection of stateless persons, and prevention of statelessness. The law improves access to civil registration by facilitating the issuance of civil status certificates to internally displaced persons and refugees whose births were not registered in their commune of origin. It also strengthens the identification and protection of stateless persons by: defining a stateless person; establishing a formal statelessness determination procedure; and guaranteeing equal treatment with nationals in several areas. It also provides for facilitated naturalization of stateless persons. On prevention, the Code strengthens safeguards to prevent statelessness among foundlings by removing the requirement that a child be a \u201cnewborn\u201d. It also introduces additional measures to prevent statelessness later in life.<\/p>\n Action 6. In migratory context, determine statelessness and protect stateless persons and facilitate their naturalization<\/p>\n UNHCR Algeria<\/strong> identified 35 individuals across 11 family groups who self-declared as stateless. All cases are undergoing Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures. This cohort includes 17 children. These cases are being prioritised for legal counselling and documentation support to mitigate protection risks and ensure access to civil status procedures. This strengthens Algeria\u2019s contribution to regional efforts under the Global Action Plan to End Statelessness 2.0 by improving data and prioritizing high-risk profiles.<\/p>\n Action 7. Ensure birth registration for the prevention of statelessness<\/p>\n In 2025, in Algeria,<\/strong> UNHCR and legal partners provided legal support to refugee and asylum-seeking parents facing barriers to birth registration, including assistance with document preparation and court accompaniment. This intervention addressed cases of non-issuance of birth certificates, which is a significant legal issue among refugees in Algeria. By ensuring timely birth registration, these efforts prevent childhood statelessness and uphold the right to legal identity.<\/p>\n In Libya<\/strong>, birth registration is mandatory at the Civil Registry, and the issuance of birth certificates is governed by Law No. 36 of 1968. However, refugee children especially those born out of wedlock face significant challenges in obtaining birth certificates because the primary responsibility for registering a birth with the civil registry lies with the child\u2019s father. Another significant challenge for refugees in Libya in accessing the civil registry system is their legal status. The majority of refugees enter the country irregularly, which is considered a violation of national law. This legal barrier often prevents them from registering vital events or obtaining official documentation. UNHCR continues to advocate with the Libyan authorities to ensure their official registration and issuance of birth certificates, helping to prevent the risk of statelessness, in the absence of official birth certificates, UNHCR issues its own certificates to these children.<\/p>\n From July to November 2025, UNHCR Morocco<\/strong> supported refugee and asylum-seeker families in overcoming challenges to ensure the registration of their children. A total of 66 new parents benefited from administrative and\/or judicial assistance provided by UNHCR\u2019s legal partner to obtain birth documentation (notices and\/or birth certificates) for their newborns. Additionally, UNHCR carried out advocacy and capacity-building initiatives to identify children at risk of statelessness in Morocco and secure their birth registration.<\/p>\n In Burkina Faso,<\/strong> encouraging progress has been made in improving access to birth registration and identity documents. In the second half of 2025, 15,657 birth certificates were issued to people at risk of statelessness \u2013 including returnees, internally displaced persons and vulnerable host community members \u2013 bringing the total for 2025 to 25,846, of whom 13,440 are women. Regarding identity documentation, 14,459 individuals were registered by the National Identification Office, in collaboration with the Directorate General for the Modernization of Civil Status (DGMEC) and humanitarian partners, and 9,860 identity cards were delivered during the same period.<\/p>\n In Niger<\/strong>, between July and December, UNHCR and its partners identified 2,271 people at risk of statelessness in Maradi, Diffa, Niamey and Dosso \u2013 including refugees, internally displaced persons and host community members \u2013 through community-based awareness activities on the importance of civil registration. Those identified were referred to relevant mechanisms to obtain civil documentation. UNHCR and partners also supported birth registration efforts for those at risk of statelessness, resulting in the issuance of 3,000 birth certificates or declaratory judgments. In addition, UNCHR facilitated access to national identity cards for around 1,000 persons at risk of statelessness in Maradi and Diffa through mobile court hearings and administrative assistance.<\/p>\n