Congolese nationality and statelessness - Jean Marie Pembe Mulumba - Bog

Persons who have not obtained nationality authentically or by individual decision in accordance with the legislation of a State are deemed stateless de jure: i.e. under the applicable law. All persons are deemed to have a nationality unless proven otherwise. However, it can happen that the states with which a person may have genuine ties are unable to determine which of them granted citizenship to that person. In such cases, the person concerned cannot prove de jure statelessness, even though he or she has no nationality and enjoys no national protection. Such a person is considered de facto stateless.