The right to nationality in Mozambique: The application of ‘Jus soli’ in the fight against statelessness

Birthright citizenship—automatic nationality for anyone born within a country—remains a luxury millions lack. Global Voices examines how Mozambique's constitution enshrines this principle, called 'jus soli,' yet enforcement gaps leave vulnerable populations in limbo. The Makonde people are a case in point: descended from Mozambicans who settled in Kenya in nineteen forty-eight, they lived stateless for generations before about six thousand gained Kenyan citizenship in twenty sixteen. Per the UN Refugee Agency, four point four million people remain stateless worldwide as of late twenty twenty-four, many of them children born to displaced families who inherit no legal status. By fully implementing birthright citizenship—especially in conflict-affected areas like Mozambique's Cabo Delgado region—the country could ensure every child born on its soil gains automatic protection, education, and healthcare.

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