Over 100 000 stateless people live in Namibia

Published: 7/Jul/2023
Source: Windhoek Observer

By Hertta-Maria Amutenja

The Namibian Government estimates that there are at least 141 048 stateless and undocumented people residing in Namibia.

This was revealed by the Minster of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Albert Kawana this week during the tenth Cabinet decisions announcement, where the executive body approved four bills for the regularization of the status of stateless and undocumented people in Namibia.

Currently, the country does not have a law that deals with stateless individuals. The Namibian citizenship amendment bill, regularization of the status of certain residents of Namibia and their descendants’ bill, and statelessness determination and protection bill have all been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation (CCL) for further scrutiny and resubmission to the deliberative cabinet before tabling in the Nation Assembly.

A stateless person is someone who is not considered a national of any state.

Namibia has commenced a project as part of the country’s development plan, the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, to regularize the status of stateless and undocumented persons.

Read further: https://www.observer24.com.na/over-100-000-stateless-people-live-in-namibia/

Themes: Acquisition of nationality, Statelessness
Regions: Namibia
Year: 2023