The African Union recognises 14 states in the East Africa region, of which five – Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and (from 2016) South Sudan, joined by Burundi (from the Central Africa region) – are also members of the East African Community (EAC), one of the regional economic communities also recognised by the AU. The EAC, re-launched in 2000, aims to create a similar zone of free movement as that which ECOWAS has established in West Africa; in 2016 Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda started issuing a common form biometric passport.
The East African region has some of the most severe challenges relating to statelessness in Africa. These include the consequences of the collapse of government in Somalia which has led to a large outflow of refugees, many of whom have been unable to integrate as nationals in neighbouring states despite long residence. The processes creating Eritrea and South Sudan, which have split from Ethiopia and Sudan, have also left large populations at risk of statelessness. Somaliland and Puntland also claim independence from Somalia, and have been issuing ID cards, but have not been recognised by the African Union.
The legal traditions of the region vary very widely, but, like other regions of Africa, East African countries increasingly permit dual nationality and respect equal rights of men and women; though discrimination on the basis of sex remains in place in several countries. A handful of laws, including in Uganda and Somalia, explicitly restrict access to citizenship on the basis of ethnicity; in others such discrimination is widespread in practice.
What began as a routine government formation process after President Yoweri Museveni’s swearing-in for a new term on May 12 has thrust Uganda’s long-running citizenship debate into the national spotlight. Among the names submitted for ministerial jobs were individuals who […]
The controversy surrounding Dr. Lawrence Muganga’s failed vetting as Minister of State for Internal Affairs has raised a fundamental legal question that goes far beyond one individual: Can a Ugandan legally hold citizenship of three countries at the same time? […]
The committee cited the Citizenship and Immigration Act which bars holders of dual citizenship from holding offices listed in the Fifth Schedule which includes the presidency, prime minister, cabinet and ministers of state. The Parliamentary Appointments Committee has rejected the […]
By Edgar Muvunyi Tabaro The debate surrounding Banyarwanda citizenship in Uganda has once again resurfaced, this time in the wake of recent public appointments. As has often been the case, the discussion has generated more heat than light, with ethnicity, […]
In this fourth part of the Project Profile investigation into the use of biometrics in the humanitarian sector in Kenya, Naipanoi Lepapa looks at how the UNHCR’s sharing of biometric data with the Kenyan government led to the violation of […]
By Dr. Julie Lugulu, LL.D Statelessness, the lack of a nationality between an individual and any country, is a global issue affecting millions of persons around the world. It remains a pressing human rights concern across Africa and in Kenya, […]
Banjul, The Gambia — 14th May 2026 — The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) today submitted a status of implementation report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), highlighting the continued failure of […]
Reportage · Il y a bientôt quinze ans, le Soudan du Sud proclamait son indépendance. Depuis, l’administration tarde à régulariser ses ressortissants : selon le HCR, 90 % des Sud-Soudanais ne seraient pas encore enregistrés sur les bases de données […]
Billy Ogada The Office of the Attorney-General has raised concerns over proposed legislation that seeks to grant citizenship to stateless persons who have been living in the country for the last seven years. Through Solicitor-General Shadrack Mose, the State Law […]
The government has taken steps to recognise the Pare community in Taveta Sub-county as part of ongoing efforts to address statelessness in the country. The development was announced during an event presided over by Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, with […]
GARISSA, Kenya , Apr 8 2026 (IPS) – In 2006, Amina Saida was only two years old when her parents moved to the Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya, near the border with Somalia. The Dadaab refugee complex was established […]
On behalf of the Public Petitions Committee and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 227, it is my pleasant privilege and honour to present to this House the Report of the Committee on the Public Petition No. 01 of […]