Benin will be joining the league of African countries that bestow citizenship upon third-generation descendants.
According to the Beninese government, it is currently examining a draft law that suggests granting citizenship by descent to third-generation African descendants worldwide, including those from Haiti, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the United States.
If approved, this legalization will position Benin alongside nations like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Rwanda, and Zambia, which confer citizenship to individuals who are descendants of the third generation and beyond.
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The matter was deliberated upon in a session of the Benin Council of Ministers.
The proposed legislation aims to reestablish a severed link with the offspring of individuals forcibly removed from Africa as a result of slavery, as well as acknowledge possible descendants of Beninese individuals who were victims of the slave trade, a tragic offense that has left a lasting impact on the history of Benin and Africa.
This initiative follows the government’s recent decision to waive visa requirements for citizens of 31 African countries for stays of less than 90 days.
Additionally, the government has declared that the proposed legislation submitted to the National Representative bolsters the pan-Africanist agenda promoted by the government since 2016 by eliminating visas for all African citizens, showcasing a firm dedication to African unity.
Benin Citizenship Requirments
The Bill proposes granting Beninese citizenship to anyone who can prove their ancestry to Africa.
According to the General Secretariat of the Benin government, it states, “Article 98 of our Constitution provides that citizenship and civil rights are the domain of the law. Although Beninese nationality, by recognition, confers on its holder all the rights and obligations attached to it, according to Article 36 of Law No. 2022-32 of December 20, 2022“.
Proof Of Ancestry: To acquire citizenship in Benin, individuals are required to submit concrete evidence of their African heritage through official paperwork, authorized statements, or genetic testing, as outlined by the General Secretariat of the Benin Government.
Passport Issuance: Qualified applicants will be issued a Beninese passport valid for three years, offering visa-free access to 63 destinations worldwide, as the first step in the recognition process.
However, access to the final citizenship certificate will be conditional on residence in the country.
What This Means
This program holds great importance as it recognizes the profound historical and cultural bonds that reach beyond current generational boundaries, seeking to mend relationships disrupted by past injustices like slavery and forced migration.
Other African Countries That Offer Citizenship Through Descent
The decision is in line with Benin’s wider initiatives to promote African integration and unity.
For example, a country such as Liberia has a unique history of resettlement of freed African Americans, and offers citizenship to descendants of these settlers, recognizing the enduring bond between the nation and its diaspora.
Other countries that offer citizenship through descent include;
Sierra Leone extends citizenship to individuals who can trace their ancestry to the country, acknowledging the widespread African diaspora created by the transatlantic slave trade.
Sudan and South Sudan, despite their complex political scenarios, have also adopted comprehensive citizenship regulations that embrace third-generation descendants.
Eritrea’s approach to citizenship for descendants reflects its broader efforts to engage with its global diaspora, which has been instrumental in the country’s socio-economic development.
Rwanda, in the process of recovering from the devastating effects of genocide, considers the incorporation of third-generation descendants into its citizenship laws as an essential measure for fostering reconciliation and promoting the development of the nation.
The comprehensive policy is designed to mend rifts and promote a cohesive national identity that goes beyond just family connections. Likewise, Zambia’s forward-thinking approach to nationality laws has allowed third-generation descendants to be included.
