The refugee condition is one that is intended to be temporary. Refugees flee when their primary, that is national, protection has failed and are accorded international protection through the grant of refugee status. This protection is intended to be replaced by a new national protection through integration in the country of refuge (through the grant of permanent residence leading to naturalisation), repatriation (which involves re-asserting effective citizenship in the home country), or resettlement (with naturalisation or permanent residence being offered in a third country). Too often, however, refugee situations in Africa become protracted, leaving refugees (and their children) in limbo for years or decades.
Refugees who are unable to return are often unable to access local integration in their country of refuge, in part due to onerous requirements for naturalisation. In addition to the general obstacles to naturalisation, refugees may face difficulties in accessing naturalisation procedures because of lack of knowledge or funds needed for the processing of applications, etc. In other cases, refugees may face political or cultural obstacles to naturalisation. Few countries in Africa have provided for naturalisation of long-term refugee populations, but one notable example is Tanzania’s grant of nationality to long-term refugees from Rwanda and Burundi.
Refugees may also face difficulties in reacquiring nationality or obtaining confirmation of nationality on returning home when it is possible to do so. For example, at least several hundred Liberian refugees (and their children) registered with UNHCR in West Africa were refused confirmation of Liberian citizenship when the Liberian refugee crisis was declared over in 2012.
Selected extracts relevant to Africa: Highlights The Republic of Congo officially joined the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions, fulfilling a commitment made at the 2019 High-Level Segment on Statelessness. Sao Tome and Principe’s President signed a decree for the country’s […]
Government Gazette Vol. 706 No. 50530, 17 April 2024 STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS ON THE WHITE PAPER ON CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION: TOWARDS A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE MIGRATION SYSTEM IN SOUTH AFRICA “The ANC-led government […]
The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs; Commissioner: Border Management Authority; Members of the Refugee Appeal Authority; Members of the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs; Senior Management of the Department of Home Affairs; Journalists of various media houses; All […]
By: Thabi Shomolekae Creamer Media Senior Writer Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Wednesday the publication of the final White Paper On Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection. Motsoaledi was briefing the media on the publication and explained […]
By Lizeka Tandwa Former president Thabo Mbeki has criticised Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection in a letter written to the department, calling for it to be improved. In a letter seen by […]
Extracts relevant to Africa: Kenya recognized 7,000 Pemba individuals as citizens, granting them official documents. This ensures their rights and access to public services and opportunities. In Malawi, the Ministry of Home Affairs, officially adopted a National Action Plan (NAP) […]
Extracts relevant to Africa: In Côte d’Ivoire, the Department of Aid and Assistance to Refugees and Stateless Persons drafted and validated standard operating procedures(SOPs) for the implementation of the statelessness determination procedure during a workshop on 26 and 27 April. […]
By Tamsin Metelerkamp Representatives of various civil society organisations criticised the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection at a Lawyers for Human Rights roundtable on Monday, describing the draft policy as ‘vague’ and ‘poorly drafted’. Civil society representatives […]
The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs; Commissioner: Border Management Authority; Members of the Refugee Appeals Authority; Members of the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs; Senior Management of the Department of Home Affairs; Journalists of various media houses; All […]
By Ernest Mabuza The Citizenship Act and Births and Deaths Registration Act must be repealed in their entirely and included in a single piece of legislation dealing with citizenship, immigration and refugee protection. This is one of the proposals contained […]
NO. 4061 10 November 2023 GENERAL NOTICE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS NO. 49690 10 NOVEMBER 2023 PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION: TOWARDS A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE MIGRATION SYSTEM IN SOUTH AFRICA The Department […]
Cabinet has approved the publication of the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection for public comment. “The draft policy aims to provide a framework to guide the granting of residency and citizenship to foreign nationals, as well as […]