Hargeisa (SLpost)- A growing public debate has emerged in Somaliland over proposed amendments to the country’s citizenship law, particularly provisions concerning who qualifies as a Somaliland citizen.

Somaliland is considering amendments to its citizenship law that would expand eligibility beyond ancestry-based criteria, according to a proposal formally submitted to the House of Representatives in May 2025.

The proposed amendments to Law No. 22/2002 would modify the existing definition of Somaliland citizenship, which currently restricts nationality to descendants of persons residing in British Somaliland on June 26, 1960, or earlier.

Under the proposals, individuals who established residence in Somaliland during the 1990s and those making investment in the country could gain a pathway to citizenship, according to public debate concerns.

The citizenship law, passed by the House in March 2002 and signed into law in June 2002, has governed nationality for over two decades.

The amendment proposal has been under legislative review for more than 16 months.

The existing law allows aliens and refugees with at least 10 years of continuous lawful residence to apply for citizenship if they meet other requirements, including good character, compliance with criminal and sovereignty-related standards, tax payment, and renunciation of previous citizenship.

The proposed changes have sparked debate over national identity, border management and security implications.

The Minister of Internal Affairs implements citizenship regulations following consultation with the National Citizenship Committee.

The Somaliland House of Representatives formally recorded the proposal for amendment and supplementation of Law No. 22/2002 in May 2025, indicating that the citizenship law has been in the legislative review process more than 16 months.

As public debate continues, attention is likely to remain focused on how any amendments would define citizenship by descent, residence, naturalization and investment, and how those provisions would interact with Somaliland’s constitutional definition of citizenship.