SAHNI ARTICLE 3.3.21 (WORD) (DO NOT DELETE)
126
Gonzaga Journal of International Law
5/6/2021 7:21 PM
Vol. 24:2
It omitted to conduct DNA tests to confirm the identity of Anudo’s father.128
Two years later, the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration sent Anudo a
notice of “prohibited immigrant”129 and revoked the Tanzanian citizenship.130
The immigration authorities expelled Anudo to Kenya131 without any further
due process or investigations.132 Kenya did not recognize Anudo as a national
and labelled him as having ‘irregular status.’133 It returned Anudo to
Tanzania, which barred his entry. Anudo was redirected to Sirari, a “no-man’s
land” border between the two countries.134
The ACtHPR identified that arbitrary nationality revocations involve the
breach of three fundamental rights. These fundamental rights are the right to
nationality and the right not to be deprived arbitrarily; the right not to be
arbitrarily expelled; and the right to have a court hear the grievance.135
“International Law does not allow, save under very
exceptional situations, the loss of nationality. The said
conditions are: i) they must be founded on clear legal basis;
ii) must serve a legitimate purpose that conforms with
International Law; iii) must be proportionate to the interest
protected; iv) must install procedural guaranties which must
be respected, allowing the concerned to defend himself
before an independent body.”136
The results of a DNA test would have provided direct confirmation of
Anudo’s identity and grounds for retaining or revoking his nationality. 137
Furthermore, Tanzania should have ascertained that Anudo was not a Kenyan
citizen before it ordered his expulsion.138 The resultant deportation to Kenya
and Sirari rendered Anudo stateless.139 Tanzania was responsible for making
Anudo stateless even though it has not ratified the 1954 or 1961 Statelessness
Conventions. It breached Article 15(2) of the UDHR140 and Articles 7 and 14
of the ICCPR141 when it expelled and deported Anudo. The Court ordered
128.
129.
130.
Id. ¶¶ 65, 85-86.
Immigration Act 1995 (Tas.) ss 10(f)(g), 11, 12.
Anudo Ochieng Anudo v. United Republic of Tanzania, No. 012/2015, Judgment, ¶
64 (Afr. Ct. on Hum. and Peoples’ Rts. Mar. 22, 2018)
131.
Id. ¶ 65.
132.
Id. ¶ 108.
133.
Id. ¶¶ 11, 14.
134.
Id. ¶ 4.
135.
Id. ¶¶ 61, 132.
136.
Id. ¶ 79, citing U.N. Secretary General, Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of
nationality: Report of the Secretary-General, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/25/28 (Dec. 19, 2013).
137.
Id. ¶¶ 86-87.
138.
Id. ¶¶ 102-03.
139.
Id. ¶ 78 (stating “[h]owever, the power to deprive a person of his or her nationality
has to be exercised in accordance with international standards, to avoid the risk of
statelessness.”).
140.
Id. ¶ 88.
141.
Id. ¶¶ 95-96, 106, 115, & 132.