UNHCR, APRIL 2023 REFUGEES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION Attribution of nationality to children Article 6 of the nationality code is almost identical to Article 10 of the constitution, although it includes the “nationalities” as well as “ethnic groups” making up the Congo within nationality of origin. 187 Article 7 of the nationality code provides for nationality to be attributed at birth if either the mother or the father is Congolese at the time of the child’s birth. 188 However, the parentage of the child has no effect on nationality unless it is established during the child’s minority in accordance with Congolese law. 189 In addition, the family code provides that a person born on Congolese territory is identified as a foreigner through the birth certificate, and in accordance with the provisions of his or her national law. 190 In practice, the birth certificate records the nationality of the parents and not of the child. A newborn child found in the territory of unknown parents is presumed to be Congolese, unless a foreign nationality is established before the child becomes an adult. 191 A child born in Congo of parents “with the status of stateless person” 192 is Congolese, as are those who cannot acquire nationality of their parents because their law recognises only jus soli attribution, or discriminates on the basis of birth in or out of wedlock. 193 A child adopted by a Congolese national can acquire nationality by option whether born in Congo or abroad.194 A separate article, however, provides that if an adopted child acquires nationality automatically by the adoption.195 Right to acquire based on birth and residence until majority A person born in Congo can acquire nationality at majority if he or she is permanently resident in Congo and expresses the desire to do so in writing. 196 The procedures do so require a formal election of domicile 187 Nationality code, art. 6 : “Est Congolais d’origine, toute personne appartenant aux gr oupes ethniques et nationalités dont les personnes et le territoire constituaient ce qui est devenu le Congo (présentement la République Démocratique du Congo) à l’indépendance.” 188 The law makes a linguistic distinction in relation to attribution of nationality: Article 6 provides that a person is “Congolais d’origine” if he or she belongs to one of the ethnic groups making up the Congo; whereas Article 7 provides that a person is “Congolais dès la naissance” (Congolese from birth) if the father or mother is Congolese. 189 Nationality code, art. 7 : “Est Congolais dès la naissance, l’enfant dont l’un des parents – le père ou la mère – est Congolais. La filiation de l’enfant n’a d’effet sur la nationalité de celui-ci que si elle est établie durant sa minorité conformément à la législation congolaise.” 190 Family code, art. 71: “L’identification d’un étranger né sur le territoire congolais se fait dans l’acte de naissance conformément aux dispositions de son droit national.” 191 Nationality code, art. 8 : “Est Congolais par présomption de la loi, l’enfant nouveau-né trouvé en République Démocratique du Congo dont les parents sont inconnus. Toutefois, il sera réputé n’avoir jamais été Congolais si, au cours de sa minorité, sa filiation est établie à l’égard d’un étranger et s’il a, conformément à la loi nationale de son parent, la nationalité de celui-ci.” 192 There is no process to grant the “status of stateless person” in Congolese law. However, the definition section of the Nationality code (art 5) defines “apatride” in accordance with the definition in the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (“a person who is not considered as a national by any other state under the operation of its law”). 193 Nationality code, art.9: “Est également congolais par présomption de la loi : 1. l’enfant né en République Démocratique du Congo de parents ayant le statut d’apatride ; 2. l’enfant né en République Démocratique du Congo de parents étrangers dont la nationalité ne se transmet pas à l’enfant du fait de la législation de l’Etat d’origine qui ne reconnaît que le jus soli ou ne reconnaît pas d’effet sur la nationalité à la filiation naturelle.” 194 Nationality code, art.13. 195 Nationality code, art.17. See also Loi no 87-010 du 1er août 1987 portant Code de la famille, modifié 2016, Titre III: De l’adoption, arts 650 et seq. 196 Nationality code, art.21. 61