2020 Statelessness & Citizenship Review 2(2) After colonial independence, registration in what is now Sabah, Malaysia, focused almost exclusively on settled Sama and Bajau villages, while ignoring the nomadic Sama Dilaut (Bajau Laut) population. This created a ‘major division’ at independence in Semporna between villagers and nomads. 16 In 1972, the government instituted registration drives in rural areas but, unlike many settled groups, the Sama Dilaut did not have a recognised village headman who could vouch for their residence. 17 In 2008, the government issued identity documents to some stateless persons in Sabah, but this program made no attempt to assist the Sama Dilaut. 18 Today, ID in Malaysia is critical and the introduction of biometric ID cards has made living undocumented in Sabah increasingly difficult. 19 Many Sama Dilaut in Malaysia are treated as aliens even when using their traditional fishing zones, meaning that they had to register as temporary workers in order to practice their way of life. 20 In some places, the question of legal identity for nomads is linked to bitter conflicts over belonging and inclusion, leading to armed conflict. For example, the Malian government swiftly enacted comprehensive legislation on civil registration following independence, 21 but the question of Tuareg separatism and their inclusion in the Malian state would devolve into civil war by 1962, impeding Tuareg registration for generations. Armed conflict continues, despite reforms to the civil registration laws in 2006. 22 The above paragraphs summarise some of the many problems nomads have had in obtaining a legal identity and some of the negative consequences caused by their lack of legal identity. Yet, crucially, obtaining a legal identity has not necessarily led to the protection of the human rights of nomads. In fact, in many places, a legal 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Clifford Sather, The Sama Dilaut: Adaptation, History, and Fate in a Maritime Fishing Society of South-Eastern Sabah (Oxford University Press 1997) 87. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Steve Shim Lip Kiong et al, Report of the Commission of Enquiry on Immigrants in Sabah: Presented to Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (Royal Commission of Inquiry, 2012) 302. Ismail Ali and Mohammad Raduan Mohd Ariff, ‘Since Birth Till Death, What is their Status? A Case Study of the Sea Bajau in Pulau Mabul, Semporna’ (2010) 1(1) Journal of Arts, Science and Commerce 156, 163. Thomas (n 7) 474. See also Patrick Blanche, Nomades de la mer, Vezos, Bajaus, Mokens (Ibis Press 2008) 78; James Warren, The North Borneo Chartered Company's Administration of the Bajau, 1878–1909; The Pacification of a Maritime, Nomadic People (Ohio University Press 1971) 26; Fausto Barlocco, Identity and the State in Malaysia (Routledge 2014) 78. Carol Warren, ‘Consciousness in Social Transformation: The Sama Dilaut of East Malaysia’ 5(3) Dialectical Anthropology 227 (1980) 88, 228. In 1960, French Soudan, renamed Mali, became fully independent under the socialist Modibo Keïta. Loi No 60-14 du 20 juin 1960: proclamant solennellement l’indépendance nationale de la fédération du Mali [Law No 60-14 of 20 June 1960: Solemn Proclamation of the National Independence of the Federation of Mali] (Mali) 383. See also Décret No 014/PGRM du 09 janvier 1988 portant institution et règlementation de la délivrance de la carte d’identité et de la carte consulaire [Decree No 014/PG-RM of 9 January 1988 Establishing and Regulating the Issuance of the Identity Card and the Consular Card] (Mali); Décret No 55-014/PG-RM du 9 Janvier 1988 [Decree No 55-014/PG-RM of 9 January 1988] (Mali); Loi No 06-040 du 11 août 2006 portant institution du numéro d’identification nationale des personnes physiques et morales [Law No 06-040 of 11 August 2006 Establishing the National Identification Number of Natural and Legal Persons] (Mali); Loi No 11-080 portant code des personnes et de la famille [Law No 11-080 on the Code of Persons and the Family], JORM Spécial (31 Jan 2012) (Mali) art 84. Loi No 06-024 du 28 juin 2006 régissant l’État civil [Law No 06-024 of 28 June 2006 Governing Civil Status] (Mali). See also Michael Offermann, Les risques d'apatridie au Mali et pour les Maliens vivant à l’étranger en application des législations et pratiques relatives à la nationalité, au Mali et dans les pays d’accueil de Maliens (Report, UNHCR 2020) 14, 28−29, 33. 340