Africa
Somaliland deports Ethiopian refugees including children
December 29, 2011 · 36 Comments
Photograph: Ethiopian refugees gather in Hargeisa to protest deportations (November 2011, Somalilandpress)
HARGEISA — Despite drawing public condemnation, Somaliland deported more than 20 Ethiopians back to their native country this week after they had been denied asylum.
It is understood the asylum-seekers were rounded-up by police two weeks ago when the group gathered outside the office of Interior Ministry to protest. Said to be led by self-appointed committee, the group of asylum-seekers tried to express their grave concerns before police took them into custody. They were locked up in Hargeisa’s central prison for two weeks.
The group said to be 22 in total, 15 men, 5 women and 2 children under the age of two, were handed over to Ethiopian authorities in the border town of Tog-Wajale.The refugees blamed their deportation on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) saying Somaliland authorities acted in consultation with the Rights UN agency. They added it was the UNHCR’s responsibility to guarantee refugee safety in the first place and suggested that the UN agency had abandoned them.
The government in Somaliland recently said it was cracking down on illegal economic migrants because it did not have the capacity to host them. It stated that there were more than 80,000, mainly Ethiopians, illegal migrants in the country and further revealed it only recognized 1,772 Ethiopians as genuine refugees. In 2006 Somaliland informed UNHCR that it was no longer open to refugees or asylum seekers.
Ethiopian refugees in the country deny that they are economic migrants. They argue that they are instead fleeing starvation,forced labor, torture and political persecution in their native land.
Since the government announced its crack down on “illegal economic migrants” in early September, many Ethiopian refugees complained of discrimination, social isolation and living conditions. There have been widespread reports that many were been fired from their jobs and were forced on the streets.
Somaliland authorities say they plan to repatriate some 570 Ethiopians with the help of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2012. Ethiopian officials are believed to be on the ground screening these deportees to determine whether or not they are Ethiopians.
Somaliland is also struggling with huge number of refugees from neighboring war-ravaged Somalia. Hargeisa claims it’s hosting over 90,000 refugees from mainly southern Somalia where TFG and AU troops are battling insurgents.
Somalilandpress
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Tags: asylum-seekers, Ethiopia, IOM, Refugees, Somaliland, UNHCR
Readers Comments (36)
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That's bad news. I know Somaliland is an unrecognized nation with limited resources but imagine living in Somaliland for a long time, all you know is Somaliland, the Somali food, arts, social, language and then been cut short. This is inhumane to say the least.
I know these refugees are mainly Muslim Oromo or Ogadens. I didn't see any other groups in Somaliland when I visited.
This is huge disruption to their lives and I can only feel their pain. Somaliland is safe-heaven for those fleeing prosecutions but if the UN refuses to recognize this region and allow it to gain much needed funds——-the UN should take the blame for this one.
In the near future, Somaliland will have room for all, it is why we do not wish to be part of Somalia, Somalia displaces people——-Somaliland resettles them. Thats the difference, sharing language, religion and name (Somali) is not good enough to unify people, you also need to be on the same page when it comes to views and beliefs, culture, values and political vision. We share none.
They are not Ogaadeen Mr Kayse. All Somalis have a right to live in Somaliland.
Speaking of Somalia's refugees, I saw UN agencies and the government settling a lot of them in Hargeisa's ilma Moge neighborhood just below the "Calamadaha" mountains. The whole place looks refugeeeee. Tents every where and the bad news is that I have few landblocks not far from there and now I'm rethinking of it and I want to sell them. No way, I am going to invest next to tents and refugees.
I didn't understand why they had to settle them inside Hargeisa and why not like somewhere near Haleeya or even further…
These refugees will ruin Ilma Mooge, Calamadaha and even New Hargeisa if they continue to arrive and spread.
Some people are leasing their land to UN agencies for these refugees. They should take them to Las Anod or Tukaraq!
why laas anood bro
Keyse adeer,
You were accusing Mohamedcheers of smoking illegal substance, now listen to yourself, in your first post you were feeling sorry for the Ethiopian refugees and in next post you are selling your land, because it is close to refugee camps !
I have lost you forever and will never ever respond or read your comments again. I hope you are not around children when you are smoking the stuff.
Jama
Be realistic sxb. I feel for all refugees and in this instance Oromo, cagdheer and Walaweyn refugees make no difference to me. They are all Muslims chased by their crooked leaders in the case of Walaweyn by Sheikh Sharif and Al shabab, in the case of Cagdheer by Abdi Ileey, ONLF and Liyuu Police and in the case of Oromo by OLF.
I am actually working on an article piece that will explain all these misunderstandings. Most Somalis are Ethiopia-phobic and think any thing that goes wrong in Ethiopia must be orchestrated by Meles, his Tigray or Amhara people. All is not true of course.
So called Ethiopian Ogadens are fleeing because of their own leaders, there is massive inter-Ogaden tribal war, some support ONLF others support the administration in Jigjiga and the two go to war every day. I will expose the whole thing in my coming up article which I hope Somalilandpress and other media will publish it.
The Oromos are no different. What Somalis need to understand is as much as your suffering from Ethiopia-phobic, Ethiopia is a federal state where the center government hardly interferes with its ethnic regional affairs. So the notion that Meles, Tigrays and Amhara are behind the wars, killings and displacements in Somali State, Oromiya is all myth. I have personally traveled to the region and my coming up article will shed some light and for once tell the truth.
Ogaden refugees are where they are because of their own brothers and fathers, they cant put aside their tribalism. For instance, the ONLF is mainly composed of the Rer Abdalle sub-clan of the Mohammed Zubeir while the administration in Jigjiga is mainly the Makahiil and the two want to exterminate each others despite both been Ogadens under occupation. Meles does nothing.
Just wait for my article. The world will finally know the truth and the real perpetrators of the crimes in that region. Amhara and Tigrays have kept quiet and the world have been given a wrong image about them and are often blamed for crimes which they know nothing about.
Somalis fleeing Somalia – self inflicted
Ogaden refugees fleeing Abdi Ileey and ONLF
Oromos fleeing Oromos.
Somaliland hosting them and Amhara and Tigrays are just confused.
No don't write your article, you never been there, you don't know anything, but the smell of own hot air.
Kayse am with you on this one please go ahead write the Article and will see what happens.
Cheers.
The borders are a joke because the any people can come in and go as they please. It is just cheap and nasty to make few an example.
Kayse,
I suggest you read Becoming Somaliland by Mark Bradbury. In the book he talks about how during the early 80s Siad Barre allowed hundred thousand Oromos to come to Somaliland and how he encouraged the Oromos to treat Somalilanders like second class citizens in the own land. He hoped that eventually the Oromos would displace the Somalilanders. If you read the book you'll understand why there is such a strong dislike for Oromos.
ur still talkin bout a dead person? let it go man, i kno you missed him, so did i my friend.
Yes, I'm sure all Somalilanders miss him—like they would miss a knife stuck in their backs that causes them to bleed so profusely that they nearly die.
Nora, thank you for enlightening me! I have never read this book but most definitely will. I knew there was a reason for my apprehension about large numbers of Oromos in our capital. It's not right. We want to make a case for Ethiopians to stay but are hardcore against our brothers from the south.
@ethiopian stooge keyse
your so full of yourself, these ppl are 100% oromos. why would ogadens choose hargeisa where the camel corpses are stored at over Garowe or even their home land kismayo?
you can only abuse the poor oromos who have no protection from political violence since there is no rule of law in ethiopian but it will backfire on you when oromos take over from the minority tigray.
Puntlandgeezer is a oromo thats why you madd.How's bosaso dead fish taste like lol
was i sleeping for long? wen did the secessionist issaq enclave got recognize? soz wuz iz dis writer on bout wen he says Somaliland iz struggling refugees from Somalia? wuz refugees? will someone please enlighten me as to wuz iz happening? or probably i think this writer is can of crazy but funny at the same tym. wen he was typing was he high on khat?
Apart from Somalia's ills, the influx of refugees have been coming to SLD from Ethiopia and Somalia.
mainly Oromos from Ethiopia. I think the Somaliland Govt. must show serious concerns on
this matter and come up with appropriate corrective addresses on the subject matter which's becoming a
dangerous nationwide security issue.
Cheers.
Somaliland does not have to host 80,000, mainly (Ogaden and Oromo) Ethiopians, economic illegal migrants. We don't have the capacity to take them in as refugees. They taking jobs from the local people that have the rights to employment in their own country. We have thundreds of new grads every years. Besides, in the long run they could sway the votes and the election outcome and we don't want to be a minority in our own country. They got to go, period!
Economy, social welfare and security is crucial for any country Somaliland no exceptions!
Keep human emotions aside and come to the facts, there is no what you call abuse the poor Oromos or Somalis displacement refugees in International Relation Policies in terms of border line demarcations. It's merely lack of understanding by our politicians and UN-political intimated pressures. The main reason is well known and clear to Somaliland people!.
Also, there're nothing under categories displacement, Somalis, Oromos, Djiboutian when comes to national issues including refugees social, demographics, and economical problems.
UN- has second largest Somalia refugee camps in Yemen which get estimated $350 million per year on Somalia refugees similarly Afwani made big secured and isolated camp called AKABER camp near Hargesia in 70's to early 80's for Oromo and Ogadens.
Why Isolated Camps for Refugees?
Well, UN Agencies considering the Refugees movements responsible for most carriage of killer diseases, social problems such human trafficking, demographic changes et. (recent Ivory Cost political crisis) and committing most dangerous crimes in the World.
With that said, Somaliland already affected by this refugee mass migrations crisis, draining its scarcity economy. Now, I don't agree to expel Oromos, as Somaliland has diplomatic relation with Ethiopia but others should leave immediately before main symptoms of Somalia being to here and this new Inferior Minister take swift action to expel them and control the somaliland borders after mate
@ Berri
I agree this refugee is definitely complicated and multifaceted. However, I believe the foreign affairs department should be deeply involved with this issue, since it involves Somaliland's regional partners.
Idea:
- Would it not be a good strategy for the Gurti and high officials to host a 3 pronged – intra-Ogaden and intra-Oromo peace conference in Somaliland.
– Phase 1: reconciling the ogaden and oromo within themselves
– Phase 2: uniting them into a single cohesive political block
– Phase 3: assist them in creating a functioning political party
– provide them with all needed training
– assist them with their private sector (have Dahabshil open offices all over)
This will allow the Ogaden and Oromo diaspora to help their own people
develop their regions, since Meles is the Abdullahi Yusuf of his tribe
What do you think? crazy, dangerous, needs work etc.
Gobaad and Berri are right!
Oromo and non Somalilander Somalis should be expelled if they re illegal. Everyone wants to help but we just dont have the capacity. Who is to say they are people of the same mind as us? Are there not Somalis that sit at our dinner tables, ask us for marriage and still feel the need to kill us, stand in the way of Somaliland being recognized? Someone else already wrote these very words.
Look at Puntlandgeezer how many of his ilk from Konfur and his hungry wife and kids do we have to support? What is to say that they will not turn around like they have done in the past and stab us in the back? Who is to say Al Shabab isnt coming across the border to kill fellow Muslims?
The only hope these refugees have is to go back home and fight for their rights like we have. It wasnt easy we lost many but look at what we have now! There is saying even when your dying you still have to wipe the drool off your lip! Meaning approach it with dignity.
Zakariye
I was never a refugee nor will I ever be one. I was always in my native land Diredawa and as far as south Somalia is concerned, never been there and if I ever visit I will only visit Mogadishu airport.
Thousands of refugees came from Diredawa and they are in S. Somali, Kenya and many other countries. So why are you insulting refugees? If you were lucky enough to survive the wars of horn of Africa are you laughing and condemning refugees. To be refugee is not a choice.
Re-read your comments and also, read the history of the region 1977 – 1980. Tell me why are different than these people? What save and your family from the genocide campaign of Mr. Mangistu?
You guys are evil !!! Leave the poor refugees alone. They are our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Thank you very much and you good human being.
Corrections:
Kase,
Re-read your comments and read Ethiopia Somalia border war history. Tell me why are different than these refugees? What saved you and your family from the genocide campaign of the Mingestu 1977 – 1980s. Why you like to insult these suffering women and children. See the picture and tell me your opinion one more time.
@Kayse
ogadenia city of Diredawa cant be ur home. we ave identified you as belonging to the homogeneous breeds of the secessionist issaqs enclave. hehehe!!!!!
i am proud of wasiirka arimaha gudaha good job wasiir duur we don't need oromo and ogaden
in somaliland the sooner they all go the better
PuntlandGeezer, stop your delusion that the city of Diredawa belongs to cag-dheer, Ogaden tribe. It belongs to all the Somali people from all kinds of different tribes. Isaaq lives everywhere you look and will be on your face in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and they are the majority in Somaliland. So, why don't you take a hike, cook the Timir (Dates) as usual.
I think every country has the right to do what they want. Somaliland in 1960 was a different country it is us who join the south expecially the so called putlandii italiano also its us that we dont you. The question is whatis putlandii gonna do. We dont need you and we have never been part of somalia till we joined you. Why do need us (Somaliland) to be part of of so called putlandiiis. We dont nedd you or hear about you period so stop clinging on us just do ur thing and go on move on bro
are you all out of your mind!! are you still talking about (QABYAALAD ?) which destroyed your land.
supposed you all are any where in the world and some one ask you where are you come from ? what would you say? I imagine you would say somalia isn't it? do you think this person who asked you this question would be interested about which tribe you belong to? for this person all somali's are the same and that is how the world is seeing you try to help your poor nation your land will take over by Kenya and Ethiopia if you don't educate yourselves 21sentry weak up you bunch of IDIOTS
I just wonder what will happen in the near future if/when Somaliland becomes more developed
and prosperity and surely Somaliland is a small country like the United Arab Emirates(U.A.E)
with a population of 3 million plus, There will be overwhelmingly foreign inlux workers, if something
to address these Ethiopian Oromos and Somalia's refugees is not done soon and proper laws
are not enacted, Somaliland will be thwarted into deep mismanagement crisis.
Cheers.
Yeah this is how it goes guys!
So before the answer@warya's final question, you all allow me to remain what I said "economy and social welfare is crucil for any country Somaliland no exception. " Also, we said "Keep human emotions aside" when it comes sovereignty and survival to feed your citizens and keep them healthy.
@warya
We somaliland has open borders allowing these refugees mainly from Somalia intruding daily in to Somaliand seen many adult femals carrying dehydrated children on their back . but don't forget easily the short history when our country people got dehydrated once 80's during liberating struggling days of this country from former brutality Somalia regimes. Completely poisoned all water production wells ( Biiyo Shina area) and destroyed all pipe lines to Hargesia with result many and many childern and elderly men and women died for trusthy and dehydration with out water to drink.
Somaliland people, no advocations of revenges againest Soamlia refugees as per instruction of our hero brine legendary the President during his inauguration day for presidency.
But Somaliland people will not be easily forget that they were victims of yesterday when refugees fathers, brothers and uncles were poisoning our main water supply facilities as per instruction of their wild animal former leader of Somalia. Can you see the difference of the leaders in terms of human feeling charactertics
miss somali this is a somaliland zone , go and preach to your fellow somalis in somalia they need your lectures …or maybe you didnt find any one to lend you his ears….i feel your pain ..for your information when someone asks me where im from i say from somaliland …
beleive me,the so called somaliland is going to be destroyed by clan based conflicts-just like the rest of somalia.
these arrogang isaaks need another siad barre to kill there poor and cheap lives.look what they are doing to ogaden civilians who ran away from the woyane troops all the way from home and when they reach a small hut,isaak autorities send them back saying they are ethiopians just to get out of it…..mohammed siad barre allaha xaunahresto,was very very right when he said isaaks are arrogant ..if the so called somaliland dont get worse than italain somaliland,,call me what ever you want.