European Union’s Deputy Head Of Mission Advises South Sudan Gov't To Make Nationality Registration Cheap For Citizens
The European Union's Deputy Head of Mission in South Sudan has called on the government to make nationality registration both affordable and accessible in an effort to address the issue of statelessness among its citizens.
Speaking at the launch of an initiative focused on nationality documentation and reducing the risk of statelessness, Lothar Jasckhe highlighted the growing legal registration costs, which are increasingly out of reach for the average citizen.
Jasckhe urged the South Sudanese government to lower the fees for obtaining citizenship and ensure citizens can register their information, emphasizing that this is essential for fair resource distribution across the country.
He also called upon the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, and Passport to make the necessary adjustments to ensure South Sudanese people are protected from statelessness.
“I appeal to the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the civil registry system is fully operational and accessible to all citizens,” said Mr. Jasckhe.
“The second concern is making nationality acquisition affordable. When we initiated the project in 2022, the cost for a nationality certificate was approximately $2. Now it has risen to $5, which is quite expensive, particularly for those without regular income.”
Interior Minister Angelina Teny acknowledged the difficulties with the current civil registry systems, which are fragmented and make it challenging for citizens to easily obtain legal documentation.
Despite these issues, she stressed that the Ministry of Interior is actively working to improve the situation, ensuring that more citizens can be legally registered.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that every South Sudanese citizen receives proper documentation,” she said.
“The Directorate of Civil Registry and Immigration is making significant efforts, not only in issuing national certificates but also in recording births and deaths.”
Angelina further explained that while the civil registry system had functioned in the past, it is now primarily accessible to those living in urban areas, leaving those in rural regions underserved.
“Our rural population is hard to reach, so while individuals born in towns often have records, the system lacks integration. Addressing this will help us prevent cases of statelessness.”
The launch of the nationality documentation project aims to equip government officers with the tools to adopt an integrated approach to better protect and support citizens, while also working toward long-term solutions for South Sudan.
Source; EyeRadio
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