1.2. The Relevant International and African Legal Frameworks IS THEIR 1.2.1. WHAT The International Legal Framework FIRST LANGUAGE? For many decades, nationality was treated as a matter entirely within State sovereignty or State control. Today, international law recognises that nationality is a human right, and States may not deny or deprive anyone of their nationality arbitrarily or discriminatorily.[5] The Hague Convention (1930) The Hague Convention on Certain Questions The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Relating to the Conflict of Nationality Laws was The UDHR later set out, explicitly, that nationality the first international instrument to clarify that is a human right: State sovereignty over nationality must align with international principles: “It is for each State to determine under its own law who are its nationals. This law shall be recognised by other States in so far as it is consistent with international conventions, international custom, and the principles of law generally recognised with regard to nationality.” "Everyone has the right to a nationality. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of [their] nationality nor denied the right to change [their] nationality.” – Article 15 of the UDHR – Article 1of the 1930 Hague Convention [5] Laura van Waas, ‘Nationality Matters: Statelessness Under International Law’ ( Intersentia, 2008). [6]See Section 1.2.3 for an overview of the core human rights treaties protecting the right to a nationality. The drivers of migration are often not singular but complex. Some individuals migrate primarily due to safety and security concerns, while others are driven by the desire for better living standards and socio-economic opportunities. This reflects a dual migration pattern, with both safety concerns and socioeconomic factors influencing migration decisions. 14