Namibia sends returned Angolan refugees packing
Namibia this week sent back more than 1 000 Angolan refugees and took a stance that any new arrivals will face the same fate as long as authorities in their country fail to keep their word on mitigating the situation.
TUYEIMO HAIDULA
OSHAKATI
The Namibian police in the Omusati Region this week handed a group of 1 116 Angolan refugees over to Angolan authorities in the boldest stance yet by the Namibian government against its neighbours.
Namibia is not impressed with Angola’s broken promises of taking care of its citizens, after part of the 4 000 recently-repatriated group returned to the country four weeks later.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala vowed to send all new arrivals back to their country, saying Namibia no longer has an obligation to keep them here, nor the facilities to house them.
The new group returned in hordes on Wednesday, four weeks after they were repatriated back to their country of birth. The group originally arrived in Namibia in March 2021, fleeing hunger in Angola.
The group walked back still citing the search for food as their reason of return.
Just over 4 000 Angolan refugees, who were living at the Etunda Elcin Centre, were transported in groups of 47 per bus to Angola from 3 January in collaboration with the Namibian and Angolan governments – with six buses doing two trips daily.
Yesterday, Endjala told Namibian Sun that the refugees were back, and still in large numbers.
The Omusati governor said while Namibia is amenable to assist the refugees again, his region – which has become the port of call for new arrivals – no longer has the means or facilities to host them.
The camp which previously housed the refugees was closed down and cleaned up by the Namibian authorities. Namibian Sun learnt that those who have returned were roaming around in the area close to the camp and some have found employment in Etunda in exchange for food parcels when they knock off.
Endjala said they will have to be deported back to Angola so their government can fulfill its duties as promised.
No space
“We have no space for them. Their government said they have the capacity. We will hand them over to the authorities to deal with them,” he said.
Omusati regional commander Commissioner Titus Shikongo confirmed that they were informed about the illegal immigrants. He said they conducted an operation to see the extent of the problem and have deported the group back for the Angolan authorities to take over. He added they are in communication with the Namibian immigration officials on how best to solve the issue.
Meanwhile, Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya yesterday said he was not aware of the exact number or whether any of the immigrants had returned to his region. He said the ministry of international relations and cooperation also asked him for an update, but he is yet to give them feedback. He would do so once the constituency councillor responsible for the area where the immigrants lived gives him an answer, he said.
Not living up to promises
Endjala said the refugees expressed disappointment in their government that upon their return, no support was rendered to them.
The group had told Namibian Sun last year that they were not willing to return home unless it had rained.
Cunene provincial governor Gerdina Ulipamwe Didalelwa travelled to Namibia in May 2021 and asked the refugees to return to Angola so that their government could take care of them.
They refused to return before there had been enough rain to cultivate their fields. They said they did not believe their government would keep its word and offer assistance.
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OSHAKATI
The Namibian police in the Omusati Region this week handed a group of 1 116 Angolan refugees over to Angolan authorities in the boldest stance yet by the Namibian government against its neighbours.
Namibia is not impressed with Angola’s broken promises of taking care of its citizens, after part of the 4 000 recently-repatriated group returned to the country four weeks later.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala vowed to send all new arrivals back to their country, saying Namibia no longer has an obligation to keep them here, nor the facilities to house them.
The new group returned in hordes on Wednesday, four weeks after they were repatriated back to their country of birth. The group originally arrived in Namibia in March 2021, fleeing hunger in Angola.
The group walked back still citing the search for food as their reason of return.
Just over 4 000 Angolan refugees, who were living at the Etunda Elcin Centre, were transported in groups of 47 per bus to Angola from 3 January in collaboration with the Namibian and Angolan governments – with six buses doing two trips daily.
Yesterday, Endjala told Namibian Sun that the refugees were back, and still in large numbers.
The Omusati governor said while Namibia is amenable to assist the refugees again, his region – which has become the port of call for new arrivals – no longer has the means or facilities to host them.
The camp which previously housed the refugees was closed down and cleaned up by the Namibian authorities. Namibian Sun learnt that those who have returned were roaming around in the area close to the camp and some have found employment in Etunda in exchange for food parcels when they knock off.
Endjala said they will have to be deported back to Angola so their government can fulfill its duties as promised.
No space
“We have no space for them. Their government said they have the capacity. We will hand them over to the authorities to deal with them,” he said.
Omusati regional commander Commissioner Titus Shikongo confirmed that they were informed about the illegal immigrants. He said they conducted an operation to see the extent of the problem and have deported the group back for the Angolan authorities to take over. He added they are in communication with the Namibian immigration officials on how best to solve the issue.
Meanwhile, Ohangwena governor Walde Ndevashiya yesterday said he was not aware of the exact number or whether any of the immigrants had returned to his region. He said the ministry of international relations and cooperation also asked him for an update, but he is yet to give them feedback. He would do so once the constituency councillor responsible for the area where the immigrants lived gives him an answer, he said.
Not living up to promises
Endjala said the refugees expressed disappointment in their government that upon their return, no support was rendered to them.
The group had told Namibian Sun last year that they were not willing to return home unless it had rained.
Cunene provincial governor Gerdina Ulipamwe Didalelwa travelled to Namibia in May 2021 and asked the refugees to return to Angola so that their government could take care of them.
They refused to return before there had been enough rain to cultivate their fields. They said they did not believe their government would keep its word and offer assistance.
– [email protected]
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