Reports about Angelina Jolie seeking Namibian citizenship questioned

Recent reports about U.S. actress Angelina Jolie seeking Namibian citizenship were questionable, a local newspaper reported on Monday.

The 39-year-old Hollywood star was reportedly planning to become a Namibian citizen in order to use the title "Dame" awarded by British Queen Elizabeth II earlier this month for her work against sexual violence in war zones.

Since Jolie is not a British or Commonwealth citizen, she cannot use the title before her name, and was therefore advised to become a citizen of Namibia, a Commonwealth country where she gave birth to her first biological child in 2006.

However, the Namibian Sun newspaper was told by Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana that her office had not received an application for citizenship from Jolie.

"Maybe we are jumping the gun here but if she does apply it will be considered like that of any other person. All applications are considered in the same fashion," the minister said.

It was also reported in 2006 that Jolie's first biological child Shiloh Nouvel had been offered Namibian citizenship, while local lawyer Norman Tjombe told Namibian Sun that neither Jolie nor her daughter qualifies for citizenship of the southwestern African country.

"In terms of the Namibian Constitution, a person may be granted Namibian citizenship on the basis of marriage to a Namibian after residence of ten years or more, or birth from Namibian parents or parent who are ordinarily residing in Namibia, by descent, and by naturalisation after residence of ten years or more. On all of these grounds, she would not qualify," said Tjombe.

The lawyer was doubtful about the truthfulness of the citizenship reports but said if they turned out to be true then it would be worrisome, because many applicants who are more eligible than Jolie have spent thousands of dollar fighting the ministry for Namibian citizenship, the Namibian Sun reported.