Article 12 (5) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights forbids “mass expulsion of non-nationals” on the basis of national, racial, ethnic or religious origin. Mass expulsions of this type were common in the decades following independence: for example, the expulsions of Nigerians and Ghanaians to each other’s countries and of Dahomeyans (Beninois) in West Africa or the expulsion of Ugandan Asians in East Africa. But, despite the adoption of the African Charter in 1981, such expulsions have continued.
Some of these expulsions have targeted recent immigrants; such as Angola’s Operaçao Brilhante in 2004 and 2005 which targeted foreign citizens involved in artisanal mining, mostly from the two Congos and West Africa. However, in other cases expulsions have been targeted against those that until a change in political fortunes had been considered citizens. For example, although the split between Ethiopia and Eritrea was more or less amicable, the former allies soon fell out and war broke out in 1998. Following the outbreak of the war, Ethiopia deported an estimated 75,000 persons of Eritrean origin without due process, while Eritrea carried out similar deportations of persons of Ethiopian origin although on a smaller scale. In another example, Mauritania deported approximately 75,000 black Mauritanians with recognised citizenship in 1989-90.
By Bronwen Manby Extract from Summary: The categories of people at risk of statelessness in the Horn of Africa are not dissimilar to those in other parts of the African continent. The first category is the most widely dispersed; that […]
By Bronwen Manby Key findings and recommendations Extent of statelessness It is not possible to establish the number of stateless persons in the Partner States of the East African Community (EAC), but it is clear that there are tens of […]
Coque Mukuta Aldeões dizem que forças de segurança mataram 16 pessoas na Lunda Norte O Governo angolano iniciou a 25 de Setembro uma campanha para repor o que chama de legalidade na exploração e comercialização dos diamantes, como uma das […]
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) recently held that the East African Community (EAC) breached its duties to effectively investigate and redress possible violations of the principles in the EAC Treaty that arose from the allegedly illegal expulsion of […]
Complaint relating to Tanzania’s expulsion of alleged Rwandan and Burundian immigrants in August-September 2013. — 1. This is a Reference filed by the East African Law Society (hereinafter referred to as the “Applicant”), which is the apex regional Bar Association […]
The Federal Government on Thursday warned Gabon and other West African countries to henceforth stop the dumping of deportees in Nigeria. The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazzau (retd.), who gave the warning in Calabar, Cross River State, said […]
In 2004, IHRDA filed a communication on behalf of Mr Esmaila Connateh and 13 other Gambians deported from Angola in March, April and May of 2004, together with an estimated 126,247 other foreigners. They were expelled under a government programme […]
The Chagossians of the Seychelles are not impressed by the outcome of the second feasibility study conducted by an independent organisation investigating whether or not they would be able to return to their native islands. After being steadily evicted by […]
Rwandans who were expelled from Tanzania and settled in Bugesera District yesterday received assorted food items worth Rwf27 million. The food was donated by Direct Aid Project Rwanda, formerly known as African Muslims Agency, in collaboration with the district’s Joint […]
By: Eric Kabeera Almost 12 months since the publication of a report directing Tanzania’s Government to compensate Rwandans who were evicted from that country in August 2013, nothing has been done. The report compiled by top local government officials in […]
Government has pledged to give some form of compensation to Tanzanians that were mistakenly victims of the ongoing crackdown operation against illegal immigrants dubbed Kimbunga. The announcement was made yesterday in parliament by the Minister for Defence and National Service, […]
By Moses Matthew Mwanza — VARIOUS stakeholders have challenged Operation Kimbunga’s way of seizing aliens in the regions of Geita, Kagera and Kigoma, areas where the operation has been hailed as highly successful. Venance Muhabuki (47), a resident of Karagwe, […]