Have Sudanese refugees’ situation in Egypt being politicized?
By Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa*
Dec 27, 2005 — When the Sudanese refugee staged sit-in protest at Mustafa Mahmoud garden more than three months ago now, it was purely voicing their grievances and what they termed injustice and termination of their resettlement process to third countries by UNHCR office in Cairo. Since their sit-in protest on September 29, 2005, the UNHCR office first turned blind eye to the requests of the refugee and refused to negotiate with them with pretext that peace already prevailing in south Sudan or in Sudan. And the situation was left to mount day by day without any swift and durable solution to avert the misery and inhumane situation and death among the refugees due to living conditions at the park.
When four Ministers from government of national unity came to Cairo last November, with intention to solve the refugee problem, they came empty handed without any concrete plan or best mechanism as how to resolve the refugees problem, and put an end to their sit-in protest. And this demonstrates clearly the irresponsible position of the Sudanese government towards its own citizens and its inability to explain or make certain to its citizens to return to Sudan. Here we have to be very clear, why the refugees are refusing to go back to Sudan, but rather preferring to be resettled in third countries? There is no citizen in this world would reject to go back to his/her own country unless if there is fear and threat which forced he/she to flew still exists, and the uncertainty of prevailing peace in country of origin.
According to the refugees when Sadiq al-Mahdi came to Cairo last November, he contacted meetings with UNHCR Geneva delegations, Egyptian officials and the refugees themselves, and he advised refugees to continue with their sit-in protest and said that it was their right, and expressed his uncertainty about the peace in Sudan, and told refugees that he will raise their issue to the highest levels, which was overwhelmingly welcomed by refugees and gave them momentum and hope to continue with their sit-in protest. After meeting First Vice President Salva Kiir in Khartoum on December 4, 2005, and in a statement to Radio Omdurman, al-Mahdi said that he tackled the question of the Sudanese refugees in Cairo and expressed his readiness to collaborate with the SPLM to find a solution to the issue! But on December 21, 2005 when Sadiq al-Mahdi told refugees to halt their sit-in protest and accept the UNHCR agreement, refugees believed that their case has been sold, and told Sadiq al-Mahdi that they accepted the UNHCR agreement, but where is the guarantee? From the park, Sadiq al-Mahdi went and met with UNHCR officials, but the outcome of his discussions were not disclosed, and instead his office in Cairo issued statement calling on the refugees to accept the UNHCR agreement and end their sit-in protest. As a prominent Sudanese politician, I think Sadiq al-Mahdi should have not rushed to raise the morale of the refugees unless if he was certain that he would be able to find a reasonable solution to their problem. I believe the refugee situation has been politicized whether being by individuals or at government levels, regardless of the prolonging inhumane suffering of the women, children and elderly at the park! And here we have to wonder, where is the role of our government to end the suffering of its people? As since the sit-in protest, there was no readiness from our government to resolve the crisis of its citizens in Cairo. As under any circumstances or whatsoever reasons, we have to have concern and value our citizens and stand behind them!
On December 22, 2005 another prominent Sudanese figure told the refugees to continue with their sit-in protest and advised them to be patient till when their demands are met. These refugees are human beings, and for how long will their situation continue to be exploited rather than an overall durable solution to their suffering? As the efforts have to be exerted collectively to end this miserable situation instead of conflicting statements by individuals, intellectuals and politicians.
So many prominent figures both Egyptians and Sudanese and Churches tried to convince the refugees to end their sit-in protest, but all was in vain. And according to a visiting professor Barbara that the bottom line is the UNHCR isn’t going to resettle the refugees, who by continuing to protest are only creating more problems for themselves. And that was evident in the agreement presented by UNHCR which apply to all Sudanese nationals present in Mustafa Mahmoud garden who are named on a definitive list drawn up by the leaders of the demonstrators under the supervision of the UNHCR. Here are some main points of the agreement “all blue card holders will have their durable solutions reviewed according to standard UNHCR criteria relating to durable solutions. All yellow card holders (including those newly registered) will have their files reviewed for any valid claims that qualify their case for refugee status determination, and will be appropriately counseled. If any yellow card holder that demands refugee status determination (RSD) should be conducted in their case, the individual will be provided with an appointment for refugee status determination to be conducted. However, if such persons are refused status as a result of the refugee status procedures, that individual will no longer be of concern to UNHCR and will no longer be eligible for ongoing assistance from UNHCR. All persons not registered with UNHCR will be immediately registered as asylum seekers and issued yellow cards. All persons with closed files will have their case reconsidered for refugee status determination in light of new circumstances in Sudan. Also refugees registered with UNHCR and holding yellow cards issued on June 1, 2004 and are named on the list will be assessed according to standard UNHCR criteria for ongoing assistance (financial, medical and education). All cases named on the list will be eligible for a “one off” financial assistance for housing. This shall apply to any case whether they are a registered asylum seeker, recognized refugee, closed file or have not registered with UNHCR. Those persons who are unable to make their own way to their houses will have appropriate arrangements made by UNHCR. Those persons not at park and not named on the list, UNHCR procedures allow any person whose refugee status application has been refused and whose file has been closed to request reopening of his/her file on case by case basis. This has to be done in writing to UNHCR because reopening requests are considered where new elements justifying reconsideration of the case are submitted. Any person from Darfur previously registered with UNHCR whose file was closed may approach the UNHCR office and obtain a yellow card. Sudanese refugees who wish to return to Sudan voluntarily, there are direct charter flights organized by UNHCR direct to Juba”.
The agreement between the UNHCR and refugees which was signed on December 17, 2005 by five leaders of demonstrators (who are now replaced by new leaders), was supposed to be effective since on December 18, 2005 to start processing of their case, in small groups of 20 persons to be brought to UNHCR office but it never commenced due to refugees’ uncertainty, mistrust and fear that their cards would be confiscated once they enter UNHCR office, and rather prefer processing of their case to take place at the park. This is the clear indication that the refugees have no confidence in the UNHCR office, and this prevailing situation has to be resolved in one way or another to restore refugee confidence in UNHCR office.
It seems there is light of hope at horizons to the Sudanese refugee sit-in protests at the park, if it was not a diplomatic approach or political maneuver. As the Egyptian Foreign Minister who requested transfer of the UNHCR office at the outskirts of Cairo, said on December 25, 2005 after his discussions with Sadiq al-Mahdi that the Sudanese refugee problem will soon end logically and peacefully after their voyage to Canada or Australia or New Zealand or United Sates of America according to their wish or their return to Sudan as reported by official Al Ahram news paper on December 26, 2005.
* Watts Roba Gibia Nyirigwa is a Sudanese based in Cairo – Egypt. E-mail: [email protected]