Jermaine Jackson Can't Leave Africa Due to Child Support Debt in U.S.

Jermaine Jackson is stuck in Africa. Why?

Since Jackson owes thousands of dollars in back child support, the U.S. government will not issue him a new passport until he pays up.

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The 56-year-old entertainer is currently in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in West Africa. Jackson's ex-wife and Mother of his two sons, Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, got a child support order back in May 2008 that demanded $3,000 a month in payments.

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Jackson, who has cried broke almost since the beginning of the court order went in to arrears because he claimed that his monthly income falls below $1,100.

The former Jackson 5 member went to the L.A. County Superior Court and petitioned to have the monthly support payments lowered to $215, but unfortunately for him, the monthly obligation did not budge; his claims that Oaziaza was in a much better financial situation than he was fell on deaf ears.

So as it stands, Jackson, whose passport expired while visiting Africa, owes his ex a whopping $91,921 in back child support payments.

California law states that if a person owes more than $2,500 in back child support, the State Department of Child Support Services immediately reports it to the FBI. The agency then red flags the delinquent parent's passport, and once it expires, cannot be renewed until the outstanding account is paid in full.

Translation: Jackson is stuck in Africa until he can hatch a plan to get out.

At this point, the American Embassy could still come to Jackson's rescue. In situations like these, temporary papers can be issued to help get a person back to the United States, but this is usually done on a case-by-case basis.

Wasn't it only last month that Jackson also had his driver's license confiscated over his failure to pay child support?

Jackson is going to want to return home to attend the preliminary hearing of Dr. Conrad Murray, who stands accused of killing his brother Michael. The hearing began on January 4th and will go on for approximately two weeks at the L.A. County Superior Court, where a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to hold a full trial.

In the meantime, "Pay up, Jermaine, or you won't be sprung!"