Government Launches Initiative to Document Refugees, IDPs, and Host Communities in South Sudan
Juba – In a significant move to address the challenges facing refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and their host communities, the South Sudanese government announced plans to implement a comprehensive registration and nationality documentation program. The initiative aims to facilitate the integration of these vulnerable populations into society and ensure their access to essential services.
Angelina Jany Teny, Minister of Interior, made the announcement during the closing of a six-day workshop on mitigating statelessness held at the Pyramid Hotel in Juba on Saturday. Teny emphasized the importance of accurate data collection for effective government planning, stating, “We want to embark on mass civil registry activities, and we believe it is an activity that we will undertake very seriously in the next two years. Without proper data, it will be very difficult for the government to plan.”
The government has committed to providing protection to refugees through the issuance of readable identity cards and travel documents, ensuring that they can access vital services within the country. This initiative seeks to enhance the dignity and livelihood of those who have been uprooted due to conflict and instability.
Maj. Gen. Simon Majur Pabek, Director General of the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passport, and Immigration, shared that the registration efforts have already begun in select areas. “We aim to register people at risk of statelessness with support from partners like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),” he explained. “We have a project where Central Equatoria is the first beneficiary, having already registered individuals in Yei and Bor, and we are extending our efforts to Upper Nile State as well.”
Currently, South Sudan is home to approximately 330,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, predominantly from Sudan, alongside over 2 million internally displaced persons due to ongoing conflict, insecurity, and the adverse effects of climate change.
Ramsey Bryant, Senior Protection Officer for UNHCR, emphasized the fundamental right of individuals to possess nationality documentation. “We believe it is essential for every refugee to acquire nationality documentation. Having an identity document is a basic right that helps individuals belong to a country and prevents a host of associated issues,” Bryant stated.
The government’s initiative marks a critical step toward improving the living conditions of refugees, IDPs, and host communities in South Sudan, fostering a sense of belonging and stability for those affected by displacement.
