MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The Supreme Court of Liberia has ruled, declaring Sections 22.1 and 22.2 of the Alien and Nationality Law as unconstitutional.
In 2019, a Liberian, Teage Jalloh, filed a complaint to the Supreme Court challenging the May 15, 1973 Alien and Nationality Law.
After series of hearings, the Supreme Court ruled the anti-dual citizenship law is unconstitutional to an extent that it does not provide for the due process for those seeking dual citizenship.
Following the ruling, Justice Minister Musa Dean wrote Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah last month to ensure Liberians seeking dual citizenship are given the right to Liberian passports.
Cllr. Dean informed the Foreign Minister that Sections 22.1 and 22.2 have been nullified, therefore making Liberian citizen by birth, who obtained naturalization in a foreign country citizen automatically.
Meanwhile, President George Weah has hailed and described the Supreme Court’s ruling as land mark and historic.
President Weah said:” The ruling is a fulfillment of my long-held desire to ensure Liberians of all persuasions, who left the country due to the civil war, are not deprived Liberian citizenship.”
It can be recalled that despite rejection from some politicians, the Weah-led Administration introduced a set of proposals, including the call for dual citizenship at the 2020 National Referendum.
But according to a release from the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), the ruling comes at a time government is planning the 200th year anniversary of the arrival of freed s laves to Liberia.
It said the year-long celebration which begins in January 2022, is aimed at reclaiming and heralding Liberia’s leadership role in Pan-Africanism, while also celebrating its rich cultural heritage and vast tourism attractions.
The release stated that the event is an opportunity for Liberians in the diaspora, African-Americans and friends of Liberia to visit the country