Gov’t continues to protest as Israel approves deportation of more 2,000 aliens to Uganda

Gov’t  continues to protest as Israel approves deportation of more 2,000 aliens to Uganda

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes as “absurd” the decision by the government of Israel to start deporting Sudanese and Eritrean asylum seekers to Uganda without approval and which is in violation of international refugee statutes.

The acting Foreign Affairs minister, Henry Okello Oryem,  says Uganda and Israel have no formal arrangement, “whatsoever”, on refugees nor have they been in touch with the [Israel] embassy headquartered in neighbouring Kenya on the matter.

“I know Israel has been giving some refugees between $8,000--$7,000 to voluntarily leave, but as Uganda we don’t have any formal arrangement with them. This matter has been raised before to us, and since it is getting serious we should look into it.”

On Wednesday (2^nd April ), Israel said it was ready to start deporting asylum seekers of Sudanese and Eritrean origin, about 2,000, to Uganda and Rwanda on affirmation that they are safer here. The pronouncement came after Israeli Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein, issued a final vote of no objection to the deportation.

The approval by Mr Weinstein was pending “verification” of six clauses that were likely to spark an international uproar if the refugees are forcefully removed from Israel in contradiction of refugee statutes.

The clauses include: “that no war or riots were taking place in Uganda and Rwanda; that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has issued no opinion that refugees were not to be sent to these states, and that there was no danger in these states to the life or liberty of a Sudanese or Eritrean on the basis of race, religion, nationality or belonging to a social or political group.”

Others are, “that it was possible to file for asylum or receive temporary protection and these states will not deport the refugees to another state where their life or liberty would be at risk; that these undertake to allow the refugees to live in dignity and make a living.”

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s special envoy on refugee issues, Hagai Hadas, has also given green light to the deportation.

Ugandan authorities have for the umpteenth time denied having arrangement with Israel on asylum seekers but this newspaper understands, even without approval, they have been slowly coming into the country. Apparently, one immigration official, on condition of anonymity said Uganda is the only country on the continent that doesn’t turn away refugees. So some refugees in question, he added, have been coming into the country with a one way ticket, issued with temporary visas upon arrival at the various entry points as the rest are worked out.

This newspaper could not immediately reach officials at the Israel embassy in Nairobi for more clarity. An email inquiry went unanswered by press time.

Mr Oryem, however added: “Maybe the deal was reached with another government department but even in any case this is something that has serious implications for the country so it wouldn’t happen without us knowing.”

However The New York based Human Rights Watch Group last year cautioned Israel to halt the impending deportation.

Authorities from Internal Affairs yesterday referred the matter for comment to the ministry of Refugees and Disaster Preparedness. But the State minister for Refugees, Musa Ecweru, said  the matter had been brought to his attention in  rumours not formally, and that not his senior Hillary Onek was aware.

“If they are refugees obviously we cannot turn them away but in any circumstances there ought to be some discussions on under what framework. The only condition under international law that allow this is the third party clause, but if Israel has not talked to any official in Uganda then that is the problem.”

Israel immigration authorities indicate there are about 2,000 Sudanese and 42,000 Eritrean asylum seekers currently living in Israel. But another 5,803 asylum seekers were forced out last year to their countries of origin, and 1,093 were absorbed into the third countries—Uganda, among others.