Kenya: Somalia Pulls Out of Refugee Talks in Protest
THE delayed repatriation of more than 500,000 Somali refugees suffered a setback after Somalia pulled out of talks in protest at Kenya’s deportation of refugees from urban centres.
The launch of a 12-member tripartite commission that was mandated to oversee the gradual and voluntary repatriation process has now been suspended indefinitely.
Somalia was apparently angered by the recent arrests and subsequent deportation of Somalis from Kenya. The tripartite agreement signed in November last year now hangs in the balance.
But according to Josphat Maikara, Kenya’s ambassador to Somalia, Somalia’s Foreign Affairs ministry sought a “postponement” of the launch of the commission to a later date.
“As an integral part of the process, the launch had to be postponed as requested,” Maikara told the Star yesterday.
However, the Star learnt that Somalia has been offended by the “continued arrests and deportation of its citizens even before the repatriation began”.
“As we are concerned about the plight of Somali refugees and the unlawful activities committed by the Kenyan security forces against the refugees of Somalia in Kenya, we cannot attend such a meeting,” said a source quoted by local Somalia media.
“Kenya has chosen to deport our citizens even before the process of voluntary repatriation began. What difference will it make now?”
UNHCR Kenya representative Raouf Mazou said they were looking forward to the inter-ministerial launch of the commission yesterday in Nairobi.
“But we regret that has not happened. We hope that the meeting will take place soon,” he said.
Somalia Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur referred us to the Somalia Refugee Commission in Mogadishu for comment but they were not reachable.
Alessandra Morelli, UNHCR representative in Somalia, called for Kenya and Somalia to resume dialogue.
“This is the most important forum and initiative in place to ensure that process will guide refugee returns and that those wishing to return to Somalia can do so in a safe and dignified manner,” Morelli said as quoted by Reuters.
“The way forward is to ensure that there is strong dialogue and discussions on all aspects of returns and reintegration in Somalia,” she said.
Kenya is represented in the commission by Foreign Affairs Secretary Amina Mohammed, her Interior counterpart Joseph ole Lenku, Maikara and the acting commissioner for the Department of Refugees Affairs Harun Komen.
UNHCR representative in Kenya Raouf Mazou and UNHCR representative in Somalia Alessandra Morelli and their two deputies represent the UN Refugee Agency.
thestar.com