Jakarta. The government said on Monday that Indonesians joining the foreign military forces would not have their citizenship “automatically” revoked, citing that the said individuals must first undergo administrative procedures.

A video of Indonesian woman Kezia Syifa serving in the Maryland Army National Guard quickly went viral on social media. Not long ago, Muhammad Rio, a former Indonesian policeman, made headlines after he became a mercenary for the Russian force fighting in Ukraine, sparking questions over his nationality.

Senior minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra explained that a person's citizenship would be terminated if they are involved in foreign combat forces without President Prabowo Subianto's permission. However, the said individual will remain an Indonesian until there is an official ministerial decision.

“By law, a person who joins the foreign military does not automatically lose their citizenship. There are administrative procedures,” Yusril told the press via a video statement.

"A person must file an official request to give up their citizenship. Law Minister [Supratman Andi Atgas] will process their request accordingly, including whether they have met the requirements. The minister will then issue a decision."

The government is also "obliged" to verify any report of an Indonesian joining a foreign army without authorization, according to Yusril.

"The revocation has to be officially recorded. ... Without the said procedures, the individual is still an Indonesian," the seasoned lawyer said.

The government has not spoken to the family members of both Syifa and Rio. 

Minister Supratman recently revealed that Indonesia had stripped Rio's citizenship. The same decision applies to Satria Arta Kumbara, a former Indonesian Navy Marine who similarly became a mercenary for the Russian forces last year. Jakarta has kept a neutral stance in the Russo-Ukrainian war. In the video circulating online, family members were seen giving a send-off for Syifa — clad in a military uniform and Muslim head covering — at the airport. Syifa's mother, Safitri, recently told local news outlet Detik that her family had lived in the US since mid-2023.

Indonesia does not recognize dual citizenship for adults. 

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