Nauru Grants Citizenship To Stateless Kuwaiti Under Climate Resilience Programme

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- A stateless Kuwaiti national has been granted citizenship in Nauru under its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, an initiative designed to strengthen economic growth and climate adaptation while providing solutions for stateless persons.

According to a statement, the programme offers applicants and their families a politically neutral alternative passport and an opportunity to contribute to climate crisis solutions in the South Pacific.

Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program Chief Executive Officer, Edward Clark said the Kuwaiti national obtained citizenship following a thorough due diligence process involving financial intelligence units, police authorities and third-party checks.

He stressed that not all stateless individuals lack documentation or are linked to wrongdoing, adding that the applicant was able to demonstrate eligibility with strong documentary proof.

“He is a highly successful and motivated individual who, through no fault of his own, is stateless,” said Clark.

Clark noted that many individuals globally face similar challenges, as their statelessness is caused by circumstances beyond their control, making them suitable candidates for the programme.

He added that while some applicants seek second passports as a safety net amid global instability, stateless persons gain mobility and security they have never previously experienced.

The Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion has estimated that at least 15 million people worldwide are stateless.

Meanwhile, according to advocacy group Apatride Network founder, Aleksejs Ivashuk, citizenship-by-investment schemes can create realistic pathways out of statelessness while benefitting host nations that administer them.

Ivashuk said providing citizenship to stateless people means access to education, employment, political rights, healthcare, freedom of movement and other basic human rights.

The Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program welcomed its first new citizens in early August, with more applicants now approved or under review.

-- BERNAMA