Contents Preface to the third edition v Disclaimer vii Abbreviations viii Definitions ix Summary and recommendations 1 The right to a nationality in African laws 4 Racial, ethnic and religious discrimination 5 Gender discrimination 6 Naturalisation 7 Dual nationality 9 Loss, deprivation and arbitrary non-recognition 9 International norms 11 Recommendations 13 International norms on nationality 21 The right to a nationality and prohibition of statelessness 21 Nationality in the context of state succession 29 Deprivation or non-recognition of nationality and expulsion from a territory 30 The jurisprudence of the African human rights bodies 33 African states’ accession to international treaties 36 Nationality under colonial rule and the transition to independence 38 The basis of nationality law today 43 The right to a nationality in national law 45 Nationality based on birth in the territory 47 Children of stateless parents or who would otherwise be stateless 49 Foundlings or children of unknown parents 49 Nationality based on descent 53 Adopted children 57 Racial and ethnic discrimination 60 iii