By Philip Buda Ladu
European Union (EU) has called on South Sudan government to prioritize issuance of nationality documentation to prevent statelessness.
EU Deputy Head of Delegation, Lothar Jaschke said that vulnerable groups such as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and children should be targeted.
Speaking at opening of a training on nationality documentation and the mitigation of statelessness risk in Juba on October 7th, Lothar emphasized the importance of accessible and affordable civil registration services for all citizens.
“This training is crucial for addressing the challenges that many returnees and internally displaced persons face in securing civil documentation,” Lothar said.
“It is part of our commitment to supporting South Sudan’s development and promoting human rights,” he added.
The training, organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with EU funding, aims to enhance the capacity of the government to issue nationality certificates and reduce the risk of statelessness.
Lothar highlighted that when they started the larger project, “Pockets of Hope” initiative by UNHCR, which supports vulnerable groups, in 2022, the cost for the nationality certificate/ID card came to about $2 but jumped to $5 dollars by 2023.
He expressed concern over the ongoing political instability in the country and the raging war in neighbouring Sudan causing the influx of returnees from neighbouring countries, which has left many people without essential documents.
“The lack of documentation can deprive individuals of basic rights, including access to education, healthcare, and legal protection,” Lothar stated.
EU deputy head of delegation in South Sudan also highlighted the global issue of statelessness, noting that millions of people worldwide lack a nationality.
“We urge South Sudan to implement measures to prevent statelessness and ensure that all citizens have the right to a nationality,” Lothar emphasized.
The training is part of the EU’s commitment to supporting South Sudan’s development and promoting human rights.
By addressing the issue of statelessness, the EU hopes to contribute to a more stable, peaceful, and democratic South Sudan.
In August 2024, the directorate of civil registry, nationality, passport and immigration decried that it had run out of national ID and other passport booklets for nearly four months, implicating more frustration for citizens especially those who want to travel.
The directorate has continuously faced scrutiny over delays in issuing nationality documentations, largely due to unpaid debts owed to a German printing company contracted by the gov’t to render IT services.
In 2020, South Sudan halted the issuance of nationality certificates and passports after the company shut down the system due to a cumulative bill of $6.9 million.
The government resumed issuing regular passports and nationality IDs on November 20, 2021, after the Ministry of Finance settled a portion of the debt. However, details about any remaining debts to the company remain unclear.