UNHCR Discussion Paper on Nationality Issues in Sudan and South Sudan

The United Nations General Assembly has entrusted UNHCR with a global mandate to protect stateless persons, and to prevent and reduce statelessness1. This mandate includes the UNHCR’s responsibility for providing legal advice on the two international Conventions addressing statelessness, namely the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
In Sudan and South Sudan, UNHCR has been advocating for the prevention of statelessness arising from the succession of South Sudan in July 2011. In particular, the international legal obligation to prevent statelessness means that no individual should lose their Sudanese citizenship unless it is confirmed that they have obtained the citizenship of another state. UNHCR also supports a right for individuals to retain their Sudanese nationality where they have an appropriate connection to the Republic of Sudan (including individuals with long residence in Sudan and those with one or more parent or ancestor who has Sudanese nationality).
UNHCR is also concerned about the rights of South Sudanese in the Republic of Sudan and Sudanese in South Sudan who were displaced from their places of origin due to conflict to be able to remain in their current place of residence or to return voluntarily to their places of origin if they so wish.