Table 5: Rules on dual nationality
Country
Is dual nationality permitted?
Always
Sometimes
Never
Benin
x
Burkina Faso
x
Cape Verde
x
Côte d’Ivoire
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Liberia
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Togo
x†
x‡
x
x†
x
x
x
x
xa
xb
x
x‡
Relevant legal provision
L1965Art46-49
[no provision to prohibit]
C1999Art5 & 39
L1992bArt2
DL1993Art18
L1961(2013)Arts48-52
C1996(2001)Art12A&13
C1992(1996)Art8
L2000Art16
L1983(1996)Art95
L1992(2010)Art10
L1973Arts21.2&22.1
L2011Art249
L1984(2014)Arts19&34
C1999Art28(1)
L1961(2013)Arts1,6bis,18,20
L1973(2006)Art10
L1978Arts11&23
† dual nationality prohibited only for those who voluntarily acquire another nationality (excluding automatic acquisition by marriage)
/ permitted for those who naturalise
‡ dual nationality prohibited only for those who naturalise as citizens / permitted for nationals of origin
a
Nigeria states that a naturalized citizen who acquires a third nationality loses Nigerian nationality – but this will be a rare
circumstance
b
Senegal’s legal provisions are almost the same as those in Benin, Guinea, Niger and Cote d’Ivoire in relation to nationality of
origin, and also include a statement that nationality by decision of the public authority cannot be held together with another
allegiance – however, thanks some ambiguities in the law, they are interpreted to mean that dual nationality is permitted in all
circumstances (except if the other country prohibits it). Senegal has been included in the central column because of the
uncertainties in the law.
2.6.7. Loss and deprivation of nationality
West African states’ provisions for loss of nationality also follow patterns mainly set by colonial
examples. Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone all provide that nationality from birth may not be
deprived; in this they are joined by Burkina Faso among the states of civil law heritage. Other civil law
countries provide for grave crimes against the state to lead to deprivation of nationality of origin. A
much wider set of criteria apply to deprivation of nationality that has been acquired by naturalisation
as an adult, including fraud, conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment, behaviour that is
“disloyal” or “incompatible with being a national”, and, in the case of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone,
prolonged residence outside the country. Only Cape Verde and Mali provide for a specific prohibition
on depriving someone of nationality who would thereby become stateless.
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