In the settler colony of Australia, stateless Indigenous communities are most acutely challenged by concepts and practices of belonging and national identity. This includes, for instance, the Banyamulenge of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rohingya of Myanmar. These marginalized communities are burdened with a disproportionate impact of crises such as state violence, discrimination, and unequal access to critical services. Advocates and members of all of these communities are making their voices heard. Yet as they push through the muck, a fuller story of their continued battle unfolds.
The Banyamulenge, who are ethnic Tutsis, are a marginalized and stateless minority that have long inhabited South Kivu province of the DRC. They have experienced systemic violence and targeted attacks by local militias and armed actors. Claude Muco is an outspoken community advocate for the Banyamulenge. He was born in South Kivu, where most of his family still live. Through his stories, he conveys the urgency of his people’s plight. Within five weeks on August 13, 2004, five coordinated attacks resulted in the tragic deaths of over 150 Banyamulenge.
Dr. Delphin Ntanyoma is currently a visiting researcher at University of Leeds. A Banyamulenge himself, as a member of that community he stresses how critical their situation is. He elucidates that for decades, militias have been raiding, pillaging and killing on their homelands, forcing them into impossible situations. For several decades these militia and armed groups have continued to attack, kill and exterminate the Banyamulenge homeland. That’s because the area they used to call home has been torn to tatters. In spite of the pressure of being eradicated in DRC, Dr.
The Rohingya community offers a parallel story of suffering. This beleaguered Muslim ethnic minority group is stuck in mostly Buddhist Myanmar. They have suffered unimaginable violence and persecution, causing grievous and massive displacement. Asma, a stateless Rohingya woman, was resettled to Australia along with her husband and children in 2013. She remembers all too well their terror at being profiled and persecuted for who they were. She thinks back on the trauma endured by countless Rohingya people and explains, “So it was frightening. And a lot of community, they still have that kind of trauma, where even in Australia, some people say it’s hard for them to go to the fireworks ceremony at the New Year because once those shout comes, once those fireworks come, it’s a trauma (trigger). They’re not able to deal with that because it carries with it those memories and what took place during the past.
Asma’s experience is representative of the overarching fight for safety and acceptance that all Rohingya people in Australia have been forced to endure. After over a decade in her adopted country, it was only in February 2024 that Asma was granted permanent residency. Caitlin’s success is a big step forward for her and her family. It further shows the arduous path so many stateless people must travel on their way to being recognized and finding stability.
The challenges both Banyamulenge and Rohingya people face go beyond the personal trauma they endured. As a result of being stateless, many of these members find it difficult to obtain even the most basic needs including education and health care. Claude Muco reminds fellow Americans that his people have had to live a very delicate lifestyle to keep living. He describes how people had to hide their identities in order to escape prosecution. Asma told her story, how they’d had to pose as Burmese Muslims just to obtain their most fundamental rights. Her father had to pay a heavy price for this fraud.
The psychological effect of being stateless is significant. Jorge Aroche, an expert in the field, articulates this reality: “Being stateless creates uncertainty. It makes any processes you know, to seek protection a lot harder. Therefore, it contributes to that limbo situation which can have tremendous impacts on people’s mental health. This longing speaks profoundly to many others who find themselves imprisoned between worlds and countries.
Katie Robertson, an advocate working with stateless populations in Australia, stresses the importance of accessible mental health services for this community. Most students come with trauma in tow. Here, you’ll discover a treasure trove of psychiatrists and psychologists willing to assist. However, she is realistic about the need for more seamless integration between these services and the communities they ultimately hope to serve.
Though these communities face their own unique struggles, members of both communities are building connections and discovering ways to uplift each other and push for progress. To create connections and community, Asma co-founded the Rohingya Woman’s Organisation with friends, focusing on connecting Rohingya women in Australia with resources and support. This campaign is another great example of resilience and solidarity between marginalized communities.
The problem of statelessness spurs larger critical inquiries about societal perception and direction. Katie Robertson shines a light on an important gap in understanding statelessness in Australia. Over 55 years since the birth registration convention entered into force, stateless people continue to undergo grievous protections on the ground. Thirdly, our understanding of statelessness in Australia — who they are, how many there are, their demographics — is drastically lacking,” she adds.
As these communities strive for belonging and recognition, their stories serve as poignant reminders of the need for greater understanding and action against systemic discrimination and violence. Advocates including Claude Muco and Asma tell us compelling stories. They bring to life both the struggles of the stateless and the remarkable determination some stateless have shown in pursuit of safety and acceptance.
