Liberia has joined other African countries in the sub-region to provide for dual citizenship through legislative enactment.
The passage of the dual citizenship act follows an endorsement of a conference committee report of both Houses of the Legislature by the Liberian Senate, amending the act or nullifying certain provision of the Alien and Nationality law of Liberia.
The endorsement of the conference report follows a report from the Senate Statutory Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Claims and Petitions under the Chairmanship of Grand Cape Mount County Senator and Chairman of the Committee, Cllr. Senator, Varney G. Sherman.
According to the conference committee’s report, the amendment of the act will restore the rights of citizens which were lost as a consequence of the provisions under the previous act.
The National Legislature believes that the amendment of the act has now provided the condition for Liberia to join other African countries in the sub-region which are enjoying dual citizenship.
The amended act, amongst others, has ensured the removal of the discrimination between a person born of a Liberian father and a foreign mother, on one hand, and a person born of a Liberian mother and a foreign father on the other.
The amended act also sought the restoration of citizenship to Liberian citizens who, as a consequence of certain provisions of the Alien and Nationality Law, have lost their Liberian citizenship without the due process of law.
At the same time, the amended act sought to grant Liberian citizens the right to acquire the citizenship of other countries and retain their citizenship, amongst others.
The amended act, when approved by the Chief Executive, will strengthen the rights of Liberian citizens and ensure that they are entitled to citizenship rights, which commonly devolved on citizens of other countries similarly situated as Liberia.