The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has applauded Mali’s recent adoption of a landmark law aimed at protecting stateless persons, calling it a crucial step towards ending statelessness and advancing human rights in the West African nation.
In a statement released on Monday, UNHCR acting representative in Mali, Georges Patrick Menze, hailed the new legislation as “a major step forward in human rights protection,” adding that it brings renewed hope to thousands of vulnerable people across the country.
The newly adopted law provides a comprehensive legal framework for identifying, protecting, and supporting stateless individuals—people who are not recognized as nationals by any country. It clearly defines what constitutes statelessness and outlines the rights and obligations of stateless persons, ensuring they receive equal access to essential services such as healthcare, education, employment, housing, and justice, on par with Malian citizens.
Crucially, the law covers not only stateless migrants but also individuals born in Mali who have lacked the documentation necessary to confirm their nationality. This is particularly significant for nomadic communities, refugees, and people living in remote border regions—groups historically at high risk of statelessness due to limited access to civil registration services.
The legislation also includes strong protections: it prohibits penalties against individuals for not possessing legal documents and restricts expulsion of stateless persons, except under narrowly defined conditions. Furthermore, it opens legal avenues for stateless individuals to acquire or confirm Malian nationality, helping to pave the way for long-term inclusion.
Since 2017, with the support of UNHCR, Mali has made significant strides in addressing statelessness. The country has naturalised nearly 2,400 individuals and issued civil documentation to more than 30,000 people. These achievements laid the groundwork for the current legal reform.
UNHCR has pledged continued assistance to the Malian government in implementing the new law and called on the international community to maintain its support. The agency emphasised that comprehensive legal protections, combined with practical documentation efforts, are key to ensuring that no one is left without a nationality—or a future.
