A Study of Statelessness in South Sudan - 2017 © UNHCR / Emil Sahakyan A young South Sudanese man holding his newly issued South Sudan passport. discrimination on ethnic grounds.72 The qualitative research findings support this assessment and reveal the prejudicial tendencies of issuing officers. For example, officers reportedly discriminate based on applicants’ names. While people with popular South Sudanese names are not subjected to undue questioning, one community member reported that when the Director of the DNPI saw her name, he refused to sign the application.73 Similarly, language or dialect also provides potential for discrimination. A DNPI staff member in Aweil 72 73 74 75 reports that applicants who speak the Dinka language find it easier to obtain certification of nationality, while staff in Juba report that, in the case of trans-boundary communities, “We can know if they are from the South Sudan side just by their accent”.74 Meanwhile, due to a lack of capacity, certain DNPI officers continue to discriminate against applicants by virtue of their physical characteristics. According to UNHCR, “Some of the officers […] tend to reject or deny nationality to individuals or communities not in accordance with the provisions of the nationality law (i.e. because an applicant is light skinned, etc.)”.75 See Article 14 of the Transitional Constitution (2011). KII with UNHCR Staff in Juba; FGD with female Falata in Aweil. KII with DNPI Staff in Aweil; KII with DNPI Staff in Juba. KII with UNHCR Staff in Juba. 23