18/02/2026
Are 3rd and 4th generations of Fulanis at risk of being stateless? The answer is YES, and here's why.
Statelessness refers to the condition of an individual who is not recognized as a national by any country, leaving them without citizenship or nationality rights. The 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons defines a stateless person as someone "not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law."
Liberia has obligations under the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which aims to prevent statelessness and reduce it over time. Liberia ratified this convention on September 22, 2004. The convention requires states to establish safeguards in their nationality laws to prevent statelessness at birth and later in life.
The central problem is a systemic lack of legal identity and nationality recognition, producing de facto stateless populations denied basic rights and protections. Many Fulani families, particularly those who have lived in Liberia for generations, remain undocumented due to historical, legal, and administrative causes. While the 2022 amendment of the Aliens and Nationality Law addressed some discriminatory provisions, challenges persist.
Key issues contributing to statelessness include:
- Low birth registration rates (4%)
- Limited access to nationality documentation
- Historical lack of naturalization by earlier generations
- Limited knowledge of ancestral origins among current generations.
Cllr. Jerrir Cole Bebgalu, the new Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, recently stated, "We are mandated to reposition and expand this Commission to respond to global and national realities, including migration governance, statelessness, Liberian deportees, internally displaced persons, and emerging cross-border population movements." He is well-positioned to address these challenges. Indeed I have no doubt about the professional and legal abilities of Cllr Cole as he brings tons of experience to this job.
Considering the context of statelessness, Fulanis born and raised in Liberia, or those with mothers from other ethnic groups, likely fall into a vulnerable category. Given Liberia's laws and history, they may be at risk of statelessness due to factors like limited documentation, discriminatory nationality laws, and lack of birth registration.
