Rights groups demand South Sudan restore ex-MP Animu Risasi’s citizenship after missed deadline

Seven African and international rights organisations have intensified calls on the Government of South Sudan after it failed to act on a binding decision by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ordering the restoration of former MP Animu Risasi’s nationality.

The organisations, including the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa and the Global Movement Against Statelessness (GMAS), issued a statement on Wednesday, highlighting that the 180-day deadline for compliance expired on January 26, 2026.

Risasi was stripped of her South Sudanese citizenship in 2018 over allegations that she was a Ugandan national, claims that rights groups say were unproven and imposed without due process. The loss of citizenship cost Risasi her parliamentary seat and left her living without recognised nationality for years, limiting her access to services, legal protections and political participation.

“The continued silence and inaction from the South Sudanese authorities at every level in addressing this injustice has been deeply painful and has unfairly defined and confined my life for years,” Risasi is quoted as saying in the statement.

“Prolonged statelessness is not an abstract legal question—it is a daily existence shaped by fear, uncertainty, humiliation, and the constant ache of not belonging anywhere. No one should have to endure such a profound and lasting cost simply to be recognised as who they are.”

The African Commission’s ruling in August 2024 found that South Sudan had arbitrarily revoked Risasi’s nationality in violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Juba was formally notified of the decision a year later, starting a 180-day compliance period that has since expired.  The Commission instructed South Sudan to restore her citizenship and related documents, reinstate her rights, provide compensation for the harm she endured and take steps to prevent similar cases.

Despite the decision, South Sudan has yet to implement any of the measures. The rights groups warn that ignoring the ruling could signal that African human rights decisions are not enforceable.

“South Sudan’s continued inaction is not only a failure toward Ms Risasi, but also a violation of its binding obligations under the African Charter. Compliance is not optional; it is a legal obligation,” said Dr Musa Kika, Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa.

According to the rights groups, Risasi’s case is not isolated and reflects a broader pattern of arbitrary nationality revocations in Africa, particularly when linked to political disputes. Citizenship is essential for accessing education, healthcare, employment, legal protection, and political participation, and experts warn that its political use can worsen statelessness and harm vulnerable populations. To address such practices, the African Union adopted a protocol in February 2024 aimed at preventing arbitrary citizenship revocation, though no state has ratified it.

The rights groups subsequently urged South Sudan President Salva Kiir to restore Risasi’s citizenship, return her documents and rights and provide compensation for the years she has lived stateless, warning that continued inaction undermines the rule of law and human rights enforcement in Africa.

The organisations also called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist Risasi and engage with South Sudan to ensure the government implements its legal obligations under regional and international law.

“We stress the importance of the new African Union Protocol on the Specific Aspects of the Right to Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness in Africa,” they said.

“We join the African Commission in urging all African Union member states to accelerate ratification so the Protocol can enter into force. Fifteen ratifications are needed for the treaty to become binding, and achieving this milestone is both a practical and moral imperative.”

Source: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/regional/296458/rights-groups-demand-south-sudan-restore-ex-mp-animu-risasis-citizenship-after-missed-deadline