Responses to Information Requests

​​​​​​​Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) are research reports on country conditions. They are requested by IRB decision-makers.

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Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) cite publicly accessible information available at the time of publication and within time constraints. A list of references and additional sources consulted are included in each RIR. Sources cited are considered the most current information available as of the date of the RIR.            

RIRs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. More information on the methodology used by the Research Directorate can be found here.          

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22 June 2017

GNB105824.E

Guinea-Bissau: Citizenship Law of 1992 and the Nationality Law of 2010

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

According to sources, Guinea-Bissau's Citizenship Law of 1992 (Lei n.° 2/92 De 6 de Abril Lei da Cidadania) was amended by the Nationality Law of 2010 (Lei n.° 6/2010 De 21 de Junho da Nacionalidad) (Manby 2016, 77; Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative n.d.a). According to the website Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative[1], the 2010 Nationality Law offers "stronger protections against loss of Guinean nationality and [permits] dual nationality for the first time" (Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative n.d.a). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A copy of the Citizenship Law of 1992 is attached to this Response in English (Attachment 1) and in French (Attachment 2). A copy of the Nationality Law of 2010 is attached to this Response in English (Attachment 3) and in French (Attachment 4).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative is a website that "contains a database on nationality and statelessness in Africa featuring national laws and subsidiary legislation, reports and academic articles, news stories and blog postings, and other resources. … The website is hosted by the International Refugee Rights Initiative on behalf of the Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative, an informal network of organisations, individuals and experts in Africa working for the right to nationality and an end to statelessness in Africa" (Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative n.d.b).

References

Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative. N.d.a. "Guinea-Bissau." [Accessed 2 June 2017]

Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative. N.d.b. "About." [Accessed 2 June 2017]

Manby, Bronwen. 2016. Open Society Foundations. Citizenship Law in Africa: A Comparative Study. [Accessed 26 May 2017]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Citizenship Rights in Africa Initiative; Commercial lawyer based in Bissau; Guinea-Bissau – Direcção Comercial da INACEP Imprensa Nacional, Embassy in Brussels, Embassy in Rabat, Honorary Consulate in Rotterdam; IOM Regional Office for Central and West Africa; Law firm based in Lisboa specializing in nationality cases of those born in former Portuguese territories; Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science; UN – Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau.

Internet sites, including: African Law Library; All Africa; Brill; ecoi.net; EU – EUDO Citizenship; France – Cour nationale du droit d'asile; International Labour Organization – NATLEX; Open Society Foundations; UN – OHCHR, Refworld; US – Library of Congress; UPR Info.

Attachments

  1. Guinea-Bissau. 1992. Lei n.° 2/92 De 6 de Abril Lei da Cidadania (Law No. 2/92 of 6 April 6 Citizenship Law) Unofficial translation provided by the Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed 26 May 2017]
  2. Guinea-Bissau. 1992. Lei n.° 2/92 De 6 de Abril Lei da Cidadania (Loi n° 2/92 du 6 avril Loi sur la citoyenneté). Unofficial translation provided by the Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed 26 May 2017]
  3. Guinea-Bissau. 2010. Lei n.° 6/2010 De 21 de Junho da Nacionalidad (Law No. 6/2010 of 21 June on Nationality). Unofficial translation provided by the Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed 26 May 2017]
  4. Guinea-Bissau. 2010. Lei n.° 6/2010 De 21 de Junho da Nacionalidad (Loi n° 6/2010 du 21 juin sur la nationalité). Unofficial translation provided by UNHCR Côte d'Ivoire. [Accessed 26 May 2017]
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