Description

The 2022 amendment to Liberia’s Aliens and Nationality Law introduced significant reforms, particularly in the areas of dual citizenship and gender equality in the transmission of nationality.

Following the enactment of the 1986 Constitution, several provisions of the original Aliens and Nationality Law—specifically Part III, Chapter 22, Sections 22.1 and 22.2—were rendered inconsistent and repugnant to key constitutional guarantees, including Article 11(b) and (c) (equal protection under the law), and Articles 27 and 28 (relating to citizenship). These inconsistencies necessitated legislative reform.

The 2022 amendment, revised sections 21-55 of the law, addressed these concerns and introduced the following key changes:

• Dual Citizenship: The amendment repealed the prior prohibition on dual citizenship. Liberians can now acquire another nationality without automatically forfeiting their Liberian citizenship.
• Gender Equality in Nationality Transmission: The law now allows Liberian mothers, not just fathers, to transmit citizenship to children born abroad, correcting the previous gender-based inequality.
• Restoration and Protection of Citizenship: The amendment abolished provisions that previously triggered automatic loss of Liberian citizenship without due process, thereby bringing the law into compliance with constitutional protections.