on their children only in specific circumstances: (i) if the child is born out of wedlock, with the mother having established filiation and the father being unknown, and (ii) if the father has disowned the child. The law does not explicitly state whether a mother can confer nationality in these cases if the child is born abroad, but it is generally understood that she can. In contrast, Burundian fathers automatically confer nationality on their children born in Burundi and abroad. Additionally, minor children acquire Burundian nationality when their father acquires or regains Burundian nationality, provided he has recognized them. If the father has not recognized the child, the child will acquire Burundian nationality when the mother acquires or regains it. This disparity contradicts Burundi’s Constitution, which guarantees gender equality in matters of nationality. The nationality law of Sudan allows Sudanese mothers to confer nationality on their children upon application, whether the children are born in Sudan or abroad. In contrast, children born in Sudan or abroad to a Sudanese father automatically acquire Sudanese nationality. An executive regulation further requires, as part of the application process, the permission of the father to confer the nationality on the child through maternal line in case the marriage is continuous. If the marriage has ended, the mother is to present legal documents that prove her custody over the child or present the death certificate of the father if he is deceased. This disparity is at variance with Sudan’s Constitution, which guarantees that “anyone born to a Sudanese mother or father has an inalienable right to possess Sudanese nationality and citizenship”. In Togo, while the nationality law contains a safeguard to grant citizenship to children born in its territory who cannot claim the nationality of another State, it only allows Togolese mothers to confer nationality on their children if the father is stateless or of unknown nationality. Children born to a Togolese father, in or outside of Togo, acquire nationality at birth. The discriminatory provision is contrary to the Constitution, which grants Togolese nationality to children born to Togolese fathers or mothers. In practice, a child born to a Togolese mother can acquire nationality on the basis of the mother’s certificate of Togolese nationality, in accordance with the Constitution. The nationality law and Constitution of Eswatini only allow Swazi mothers to confer nationality on their children if the child is born out of wedlock in Eswatini or abroad to a father who has not claimed the child in accordance with customary law. In contrast, a child born to an Eswatini father, whether in Eswatini or abroad, acquires nationality at birth. If the child is born out of wedlock, the father needs to legally recognize the child. In Madagascar, only a father can confer nationality on an adopted child; a mother cannot. In Mauritius, a woman can confer nationality on her adopted child only if she adopts the child as a single parent. In cases of joint adoption, only the father is able to confer nationality. In Somalia, the nationality law does not allow Somali mothers to confer nationality on their children under any circumstances. In contrast, Somali fathers confer nationality at birth on children born in Somalia or abroad. U N H C R > B A C K G R O U N D N O T E O N G E N D E R E Q U A L I T Y, N AT I O N A L I T Y L A W S A N D S TAT E L E S S N E S S 2 0 2 6 11