Nationality, citizenship and the right to have rights: a study on the case of Anudo Ochieng Anudo v. Tanzania

Abstract

In a global context where the assurance of human rights often hinges on affiliation with a political community, statelessness emerges as an alarming issue, impacting the security and well-being of individuals. Within this framework, employing a methodological approach that integrates case analysis and literature review, this work seeks a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of statelessness and arbitrary deprivation of nationality, exploring their impacts on individual protection. The case study strategy, focused on the detailed examination of the legal case "Anudo Ochieng Anudo v. Tanzania," adjudicated by the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights in 2018, facilitates a contextualized and empirically grounded investigation into the dynamics involved in nationality deprivation. This decision, by establishing standards to prevent arbitrariness in nationality grants, develops innovative criteria that form a solid foundation for challenging illegitimate state decisions. By outlining the implications of the "Anudo Ochieng Anudo v. Tanzania" case and its ramifications, the aim is to provide an enlightening perspective on the challenges and potential solutions related to statelessness in the international context. The exploration of the African Court's decisions and the prospect of their application on the global stage contribute to a nuanced understanding of the issue and its broader implications.