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The African countries offering citizenship to diasporans

August 17, 2025

Several West African nations have implemented citizenship laws for African diaspora members as part of reconciliation efforts addressing the historical injustices of the transatlantic slave trade. Benin recently enacted a law allowing descendants of enslaved people to apply for citizenship through a digital platform if they can provide proof of Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Following Ghana's successful 2019 Year of Return, the country launched the Beyond the Return initiative (2020-2030) offering long-term residency and selective citizenship to diaspora members, while Guinea-Bissau has granted citizenship to Afro-descendants under its Decade of Return initiative launched in 2021.

Who is affected

  • Members of the African diaspora, particularly descendants of enslaved Africans
  • African Americans and Caribbeans seeking reconnection with African heritage
  • Local populations in host countries like Ghana facing gentrification and rising costs
  • Specific diaspora groups with proven ancestral ties to ethnic groups like Balanta, Fula, Djola, Baga, or Mandinka
  • American pop star Ciara, who received Beninese nationality
  • Nine Afro-descendants from the US-based Balanta B'urassa History and Genealogy Society
  • Returnees like Deijha Gordon who moved from New York to Ghana

What action is being taken

  • Benin is operating a digital platform for diaspora citizenship applications requiring proof of Sub-Saharan African ancestry
  • Ghana is implementing its Beyond the Return initiative (2020-2030) promoting cultural reconnection, tourism, and investment
  • Guinea-Bissau is granting citizenship to Afro-descendants under its Decade of Return initiative
  • West African governments are establishing forums and instruments like diaspora investment forums and business-matching platforms
  • African nations are positioning diaspora citizenship as both cultural reconciliation and strategic development tools
  • Ghana is channeling diaspora capital into SME finance, infrastructure, and job creation through platforms like WIDU.africa

Why it matters

  • These initiatives address historical injustices of the transatlantic slave trade
  • They provide diaspora members with formal recognition and connection to their ancestral heritage
  • The programs offer economic benefits through diaspora investment and remittances
  • Citizenship grants access to the ECOWAS passport, allowing free travel across 15 West African countries
  • For returnees like Deijha Gordon, gaining citizenship creates a meaningful connection to their African roots
  • The initiatives represent a shift from colonial-era "Back to Africa" movements to voluntary return and mutual economic benefit
  • These frameworks position Africa's diaspora as partners in continental development

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices