Benin Proposes Law to Grant Citizenship to African Descendants 

Strengthening Cultural and Historical Ties

The Beninese government, led by President Patrice Talon, has submitted a bill to Parliament to grant Beninese citizenship to individuals of African descent. According to the government, this bill seeks to strengthen cultural and historical ties with the descendants of Africans deported during the slave trade, addressing the “deep wounds on African societies, in general, and on the descendants of those deported and enslaved, in particular.”

Criteria for Citizenship

The KOACI, RFI, and the General Secretariat of the Government of Benin state that the proposed law offers Beninese citizenship by recognition to individuals who can prove their sub-Saharan African ancestry and whose ancestors were victims of forced removal from the continent during the transatlantic slave trade.

Proof of Ancestry and Application Process

The bill postulates that an Afro-descendant is “any person who, according to their genealogy, has sub-Saharan African ancestry deported outside the African continent as part of the slave trade.” To be eligible, applicants must provide evidence of their African descent through civil status documents, authenticated testimonies, or DNA tests conducted by accredited institutions in Benin.

The bill states that “proof of Afro-descendants is provided by the applicant by means of any civil status or official documentation, all testimonies established by authentic deed, a DNA test carried out by an approved structure in Benin or by any other technical or scientific means.”

Political Rights Limitations and Naturalization Requirements

However, it is essential to note that this recognition of nationality does not grant political rights, such as the right to vote or access to civil service positions. Successful applicants will receive a three-year Benin passport, but to obtain a naturalization certificate, they must “stay in the country a few days” before their passport expires.

Reconnecting with Roots

The statement from the General Secretariat of the Government explains that this measure aims to “allow African descendants to reconnect with their roots and maintain a living link with the lands of their ancestors.” It recognizes that “most Afro-descendants wish to find a link with their original kingdoms or, failing that, with the Republics which replaced them.” The government hopes this law will encourage African descendants to invest in the country and participate in its socio-economic development.

Parliamentary Review and Potential Impact

The Beninese Parliament is reviewing the bill and preparing to vote on it. If adopted, this legislation would place Benin among a select few African countries that allow citizenship by descent beyond the first generation.

Joining Other African Nations

If the bill passes, Benin will join Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Rwanda, and Zambia as the only African nations that grant citizenship by descent to third-generation dependents and beyond.

Source: Imi Daily