The North Africa region recognised by the African Union includes all the Mediterranean littoral states, as well as Mauritania. In January 2017, Morocco rejoined the bloc, following its readmission to the AU after 33 years of absence after it withdrew in protest when the AU recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara).
The common Arab and Muslim heritage has shaped many of the nationality laws, as well as French influence in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Mauritania. Attribution of nationality at birth is generally based on descent. Many of the laws create easier access to nationality for people of who are Muslim and speak Arabic. However, the North African region has seen much stronger movement towards gender equality in transmission of nationality than has the Middle East.
The contested status of Western Sahara and of Palestine create two of the groups at greatest risk of statelessness in the region, with a large population of stateless Palestinians, especially in Egypt; and refugees from Western Sahara in Algeria having their Sahrawi nationality recognised by only a few states internationally.
A number of Saharan nomadic groups speaking languages related to Berber (Tamasheq) have historically faced difficulties in obtaining recognition of nationality; a situation that has been exacerbated by the breakdown of order in Libya.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has issued decisions revoking the Egyptian nationality of three individuals for different legal reasons, including a woman born in Israel. The decisions, published in the official gazette, were issued in accordance with the constitution and […]
Extracts on African countries: Action 1. Resolve major situations of statelessness In Kenya, 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 […]
By Emmanuel Nwosu On the storm-scarred hillside of Roseau Valley, Dominica, the tiny Caribbean island nation, a passport is funding a geothermal plant for clean energy. In Basseterre, St. Kitts, it once funded 60–70% of government revenue. In Valletta, Malta, […]
Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 51st Session of the Universal Periodic Review 4th Cycle Apr-May 2026 Association des femmes chefs de Famille (AFCF), Equality Now, the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights and the Institute on […]
Par Sami Kaidi Journaliste Le projet de loi modifiant et complétant l’ordonnance n°70-86 du 15 décembre 1970, portant code de la nationalité algérienne a été adopté, hier, à l’APN. S’exprimant à cette occasion, le ministre de la Justice, garde des Sceaux, […]
Les autorités ciblent toute « atteinte à la sécurité ou à l’unité de l’Etat » ou « allégeance à une puissance étrangère », faisant craindre un musellement de l’opposition en exil. Par Hamid Nasri (Alger, correspondance) Après avoir décidé de […]
Par Nabila Amir La proposition d’amendement du code de la nationalité du 15 décembre 1970, initiée par le député du Rassemblement national démocratique Hichem Sfar, a finalement été approuvée, malgré la polémique et les spéculations suscitées sur les réseaux sociaux. […]
Algeria’s lower house of parliament is reviewing a bill that would let the state strip some Algerians of their citizenship, including those born Algerian, for actions deemed seriously harmful to national security or unity when committed in Algeria or abroad. […]
Edited by ‘Gbenga Sesan and Tony Roberts Millions of citizens in Africa are unable to obtain essential services that they are entitled to as new digital ID systems continue being imposed across the continent, requiring them to provide biometric and […]
Cairo, Egypt, 27 November 2025 – The Analysis and Outreach Hub of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (OSRSG CAAC) in Doha, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in […]
A plan resurfacing in Algeria’s parliament would allow authorities to strip citizenship from Algerians who commit acts abroad deemed seriously harmful to state interests or national unity, or who demonstrably shift their loyalty to another country. Though supporters say this […]
par Mohamed Rahmani Une proposition de loi relative à la Nationalité algérienne a été déposée à l’Assemblée populaire nationale par un groupe de députés. Ce texte vise à introduire un dispositif de retrait de la nationalité algérienne dans des cas […]