Djibouti: Detention of Refugees and Fear of Deportation

Djibouti: Detention of Refugees and Fear of Deportation

HRLHA Urgent Action

May 30, 2013 

The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA)would like to express its deep concern regarding the current situation of nine Ethiopian refugees arrested and detained in the neighboring country of Djibouti.

According to HRLHA correspondent in Djibouti, the nine Ethiopian refugees (listed below) were arrested on the 22nd of May, 2013 in front of the UNHCR Office, Djibouti branch, where they had been for the renewal of their refugee identification cards. Until the time of the issuance of this URGENT ACTION, families and friends of those refugees have not been able to see and/or communicate with them since they were arrested and detained.

S. No	NAME	UNHCR ID No.
1.	Izadin Madad Mahamed	479 – 09C00243
2.	Abdallah Adil Mohamed	719/3
3	Ayelech Gelaw Abebew (Female)	479 – 13C00019
4	Ahmed Hassen Abdi	479 – 12C00395
5	Tadelech Adnew Abayneh	479 – 12C00412
6	Galil Ahmed Zaimed	479 – 11C00263
7	Truneh Tesema Sisay	479 – 12C00072
8	Abdi Yasin Abden
9	Mohamed Amin Hassen

Among the nine refugees, Mr. Abdallah Adil Mohamed is said to have been waiting for his appointment date, which is the 30th of May, 2013, with the Canadian Consulate in Djibouti for an immigration interview. The HRLHA has also learnt through its correspondent that the detained refugees have gone on hunger strike as of May 27, 2013, presumably as a result of extreme frustration. Based on related past experiences and the involvement of Ethiopian security agents in the arrest and detention of those refugees, there is a high level of fear that the government of Djibouti might deport the detained refugees back to Ethiopia.

The current hot weather of Djibouti added to the detained refugees’ going on hunger strike, makes the safety and wellbeing of those refugees very questionable.

Therefore, HRLHA calls up on the government of Djibouti to unconditionally release the detained Ethiopian refugees from detention. We also request that the government of Djibouti abide by all relevant international laws, treaties, and agreements, and allow those and all other refugees currently staying in its country to go on with their immigration processes with all protection and security that they are entitled to. We also call up on all regional and international human rights and diplomatic agencies to put necessary pressures on the Djibouti Government so that the detained refugees would be released immediately.

Recommendation:

• RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to the Djibouti Government, concerned Djibouti officials and to diplomatic representatives in  Djibouti who are accredited to your country as swiftly as possible, in English,  In French Language, or your own language expressing:
• Your concern regarding the possibility of apprehension and fear of torture of the citizens who are being held in detention centers; and calling for their immediate and unconditional release;
• Urging the Djibouti authorities to ensure that these detainees would be treated in accordance with the regional and international standards on the treatment of prisoners,
• Abide to the International Conventions of the refugees and asylum seekers not to return a person to a place where they face torture or ill-treatment.

     His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh President of Djibouti

     Email: sggpr@intnet.dj

Copied to:

     United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Case Postale 2500

     CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt Suisse.

--Full Documents:

2. HRLHA – Written statement of 23rd Session UN HRC and
1.  Detention of Refugees and Fear of Deportation