THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
On 8 and 9 June 2025, Italian citizens will vote in a landmark referendum that could significantly change the path to citizenship for over a million non-EU residents, including many Africans. The proposal seeks to halve the required period of legal residence for non-EU citizens to apply for Italian citizenship, reducing it from ten to five years.
According to the Idos research center, the reform could benefit approximately 1.42 million non-EU residents. This includes around 284,000 children whose parents would gain citizenship, opening doors to greater stability, rights, and opportunities for entire families. Africans, who make up a significant portion of Italy’s non-EU population, would be among those most positively affected.
Currently, the decade-long wait for citizenship creates uncertainty for migrants, limiting access to full civic participation, employment opportunities and security of residence. The new policy would allow migrants who have maintained regular legal status for five years to apply for citizenship, accelerating integration and reducing the time families spend in limbo.
However, the reform only counts years of regular, documented residence. Migrants with precarious or irregular status may still face barriers, as time spent without proper documentation does not count towards the requirement. This means that while the policy is a step forward, it does not address the challenges faced by undocumented migrants or those with interrupted residency.
The current right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has expressed opposition to the reform, initiated by a coalition of progressive parties and migrant rights organizations, responding to long-standing calls for more inclusive citizenship laws.
The government is reportedly encouraging voter abstention and mainstream media coverage has been minimal.This stance has drawn criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties, who argue that the government is undermining democratic processes. For the reform to pass, more than 50% of eligible voters must participate in the referendum.
A successful vote could mark a significant step towards a more inclusive Italian citizenship, bringing the country in line with several other European nations, such as France, Germany and Portugal, that require shorter residency periods for naturalisation.
Adira Kallo
