Over recent years, several African nations have introduced legislation allowing people from the African diaspora to obtain citizenship.
Here are the top 7 African nations that offer or plan to offer citizenship to people of African descent.
- Ghana: Earlier this year, Ghana granted citizenship to 524 Black people, most of whom were from the U.S., under the Year of Return. Ghana 2019 initiative. Launched six years ago, the initiative was created to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the U.S. The Year of Return seeks to “rebuild what has been stolen and lost over the past 400 years.” Hundreds have been granted citizenship as part of the initiative. With Year of the Return, leaders are continuing to encourage members of the diaspora to reconnect with their heritage.
- Benin: Benin is the latest nation to grant citizenship to descendants of enslaved people. Further clarified this year, the country’s Sep. 2, 2024 law gives people of African descent the ability to obtain Beninese citizenship, provided they are over 18, are not citizens of another African country, and can provide proof of their actual descent. The initiative is part of the country’s efforts to strengthen ties with the African diaspora and increase cultural tourism.
- Sierra Leone: Available through an African Diaspora Accession Program, Sierra Leone offers citizenship to those who can prove ancestral ties. In efforts to reconnect and restore, under the “GO-FOR-GOLD” program, people of African ancestry can get citizenship in 60 days for $100,000.The program was launched to fast-track the citizenship process.
- Liberia: Considered to be one of the first African nations to do so, Liberia granted citizenship to the descendants of enslaved Africans in the mid-19th century, according to the United Nations. Along with approving a law permitting dual citizenship, a 2022 law passed by the country stated that, under the Aliens and Nationality Law, people of Liberian descent can apply to become citizens. The law is expected to boost investments and support the country’s economy.
- Nigeria: Nigeria offers citizenship to anyone who applies and has blood ties to a Nigerian citizen by birth. Under Section 25 of the country’s Constitution, individuals born outside Nigeria can apply for citizenship if their parents or grandparents were or are currently Nigerian citizens. Individuals can also be naturalized if they are over 18 years old, have lived in Nigeria for 15 years and are upstanding citizens.
- Guinea-Bissau: Earlier this year, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau approved citizenship for nine people of African descent. All in all, 11 more people have been granted citizenship, with another 14 pending approvals. As of now, however, citizenship is granted only by decree rather than by legislation.
- Gabon: Although plans for formal legislation are still in the works, the country allows people to obtain citizenship despite not being born there. At this time, if an individual has a citizen parent, they are eligible to apply for citizenship by descent.
