CITIZENSHIP AND STATELESSNESS
IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
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Table 6: Right to acquire nationality as an adult by naturalisation
Country
Djibouti
:
10 yrs
Language /
oe ele 1)
requirements
Assimilation, in
Character
sufficient
knowledge of one _
for offences against
state security, or
particular
of the languages
used
Eritrea 2
Ethiopia
20 yrs
4 yrs
Good conduct and
morals; no convictions
No
Able to
Good character, no
any one of the
languages spoken
conviction
Somalia
7 yrs
Good health
i itaTeys
children
included?
Yes,
Period reduced to 5
years if important
automatic
services
record of criminal
Yes
Limits on rights
for naturalised /
dual
President must
C1992Art23
national
46
President must be
national by birth
C1997Art40
L1992Art4,6,&
7
No
C1995Art33
that equal rights)
12, 18
not be a dual
Legal
provision
L2018Arts36-
Free of mental
and physical
disabilities, not
a burden on
society, ability
to provide for
Residence period 10 yrs
if before 1974
= Yes, on
application
one & family’s
Yes
own needs
Sufficient and
lawful source
of income to
maintain
by the nations/
nationalities of the
country
-
aera
income
sentenced to 6 mths in
prison for crime of
dishonesty.
Understands and
High integrity and not
speaks one of the —_ convicted of any crime;
languages of
not committed “antiEritrea
people act during the
liberation struggle of
the Eritrean people”
communicate in
:
himself and his
§ Foreigner making
“outstanding contribution”
may be exempted from
conditions.
Yes, on
application
(specific provision
L2003Arts4-
family
Good civil and moral
conduct
Yes
-
Period can be reduced to
2 yrs for “child of a
No
No
L1962Arts4-9
Somali mother’.
Honorary citizenship
possible in case of
“exceptional
circumstances”
1 Most countries require the person to be adult, currently and legally resident and to intend to remain so if they wish to naturalise; these provisions are not included here.
~ racial, ethnic or religious discrimination applies
? Eritrea provides additional criteria for the acquisition of nationality by persons resident in Eritrea between 1934 and 1952; these are described as naturalisation but are non-discretionary,
and more in the nature of transitional provisions
30
UNHCR
— December 2021