Parliament committee launches inquiry into citizenship revocation bill

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands has officially launched a parliamentary inquiry into the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, following the formal adoption of its Terms of Reference on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

The inquiry stems from an August 27 parliamentary referral under Standing Order 49 according to an official public notice issued by the National Parliament.

The draft legislation seeks to alter the Citizenship Act 2018 by introducing an additional legal ground to revoke the status of individuals who obtained their Solomon Islands citizenship through the application process.

The committee’s probe will thoroughly evaluate whether the proposed law is necessary and effective in safeguarding national security and public order without compromising constitutional rights.

Parliament’s notice highlights that the review will look closely at democratic safeguards for lawful political expression, measures to prevent individuals from being left stateless, and the overall fairness of the revocation procedures.

Additionally, lawmakers plan to scrutinise the independent capacity of the Citizenship Commission and examine why the new revocation powers specifically target citizens by application rather than the broader population.

The committee clarified that its mandate is strictly limited to review the legislative framework and its administrative implications. Consequently, it will not investigate the citizenship status or personal conduct of any identifiable individual, nor will it consider matters currently active before a court of law.

To assist its inquiry, the committee is inviting public submissions and will gather evidence from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, law enforcement, immigration authorities, and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

While the upcoming committee hearings will ordinarily be open to the public, the parliamentary body maintains the authority to hold private, in-camera sessions when necessary to protect national security or the public interest.

The committee is legally required to finalise its findings and submit its comprehensive report, including any recommended technical amendments, to the National Parliament by Friday, November 13, 2026.

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