Descendants of Omani nationals have found themselves at risk of statelessness in Burundi after so many years living in this country. They face difficulties in getting papers and are not eligible to thesame privileges and rights that Burundi\u2019s citizens receive.\u2013By Yves Didier Irakoze<\/p>\n
Ahmed Salum, a representative of Omani living in Burundi, says their life is not easy. \u201cMy parents came in Burundi many years ago. I was born in Burundi, but till now I don\u2019t have papers. I\u2019m not recognized by my parents\u2019 country nor by the country I live in\u201d, Ahmed sayssadly. He goes on saying that they don\u2019t know where they belong. \u201cWe survive. We can\u2019t travel, because we don\u2019t have papers. Without them we can\u2019t get a driving license, let alone a passport\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government of Burundi provides us with a temporary residence permit in partnership with the UNHCR, but we can\u2019t present this document to get a passport or any administrative documents. We don\u2019t have the same rights and privileges as citizens of Burundi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ahmed Salum says that he appreciates that the government of Burundi allows them to stay in Burundi, but emphasizes that they need more help in order to get them back home to Oman. \u201cBurundi knows our origins and can testify that we are from Oman. We thank Burundi because it raised and educated us. Now the government can help us to back home. Even if we would get Burundian nationality, we would still be called names or considered foreigners, because of our skin color. And that is very stressful.\u201d<\/p>\n