This book, by an acknowledged expert on human rights in Africa, discusses the hundreds of thousands living as non-persons in the only African state they have ever known. Not recognized as citizens, they have no access to education, state health services, travel documents, or employment without a work permit. Most of all, they cannot vote, stand for office, or work for state institutions. Ultimately such policies can lead to disaster or war. The conflicts in Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo are at heart conflicts over the rights of divided populations to share fully the rights and duties of citizenship. Bringing together new research from across Africa, this book makes the case for urgent reform of the law. 

This book, by an acknowledged expert on human rights in Africa, discusses the hundreds of thousands living as non-persons in the only African state they have ever known. Not recognized as citizens, they have no access to education, state health services, travel documents, or employment without a work permit. Most of all, they cannot vote, stand for office, or work for state institutions. Ultimately such policies can lead to disaster or war. The conflicts in Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo are at heart conflicts over the rights of divided populations to share fully the rights and duties of citizenship. Bringing together new research from across Africa, this book makes the case for urgent reform of the law.