Africa-Press – Namibia. BARELY weeks after more than 4 000 Angolans were voluntarily repatriated from Etunda to their home country, over a thousand returned to Namibia and were subsequently deported to Angola.
Namibian immigration authorities in the Omusati Region this week deported 1 116 Angolan nationals back to their country. The deportees were part of a bigger group of Angolans who entered Namibia last year fleeing a severe drought in their area of origin.
Over 4 000 were voluntarily repatriated some time ago, responding to the call of their government that promised to feed them and care for their essential needs. However, it was only a matter of weeks before some returned to Namibia claiming that the Angolan government was not providing the food it promised.
This time, however, the Namibian authorities declared their status as “non-humanitarian” and accused them of being illegal immigrants who want to permanently settle at Etunda in the Omusati Region. The group that was deported on Tuesday and Wednesday comprised over 700 children and 300 adults.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala said the group fled their country after they were informed that the refugee camps in Angola are only meant for those who were moved from Namibia and not for those that were within their country.
Hence, their government is unable to assist them which resulted in them fleeing to Namibia hoping to be assisted by the Namibian government. Endjala said that Namibia and Angola had an agreement in which the Angolan government promised to assist their people.
“We cannot cater for them anymore. We are applying the law of immigration, which subjects them to deportation. They no longer need humanitarian assistance. The Angolan government is able to help them,” he added.
Endjala explained that in 2021 the group was helped on humanitarian grounds but now they are subjected to deportation once they are seen in Namibia. Omusati Regional Commander Commissioner Titus Shikongo said he was aware of the situation and that the matter was dealt with accordingly.
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