The Nationality and Statelessness of Nomadic Peoples Under International Law

The Nationality and Statelessness of Nomadic Peoples Under International Law analyses the nationality challenges faced by nomadic communities such as the former Bedouin in Kuwait, Tuareg in Mali, Fulani in Côte d''Ivoire, and Sama Dilaut in Malaysia. Drawing on diverse sources and original field research, it traces the colonial roots of nomadic statelessness and evaluates the effectiveness of international law in safeguarding their right to nationality.

Despite the universal right to nationality, many nomadic peoples struggle to claim this fundamental status. International law offers solutions to combat statelessness-like birth registration-but do they work for nomadic peoples? The Nationality and Statelessness of Nomadic Peoples Under International Law delves into the nationality challenges faced by four communities: former Bedouin in Kuwait, Tuareg in Mali, Fulani in Côte d''Ivoire, and Sama Dilaut (Bajau Laut) in Malaysia. Drawing on diverse sources from across disciplines, as well as original field research, the book traces the roots of nomadic statelessness from colonization to the present. Through a rigorous legal analysis, the book evaluates how effectively international law addresses these underlying issues and safeguards the right to nationality for those whose lifestyles transcend borders and conventional nation-state structures. Finally, the book proposes reforms to international law to better address the needs of nomadic peoples regarding nationality and citizenship.