More Than 400 Eritreans Deported Without Opportunity to Claim Asylum

The Sudanese government deported more than 400 Eritreans without granting opportunity to apply for asylum The Sudanese government deported more than 400 Eritreans without granting opportunity to apply for asylum © SEENTHIS

30 May 2016
The Sudanese government deported more than 400 Eritreans, most likely without granting opportunity to apply for asylum.

In May 2016, more than 400 Eritreans were arrested, tried and convicted of “illegal entry” and then deported by the Sudanese government.  In the group, 6 Eritreans were already registered as refugees, and other Eritreans were not confirmed to have been given the opportunity to apply for asylum.  They were expected to return to their country of origin, which has been described by Human Rights Watch (HRW) as having a repressive government. Additionally, HRW mentioned that the Sudanese government denied the request of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for access to the identities of the Eritreans who wanted to apply for asylum.

The Sudanese government has a prior record of deporting Eritreans.  While it has the right to arrest and question foreigners within its borders, it was prohibited from deporting anyone to a country where that person faces mortal danger, especially when that person was not given access to request asylum.  The deportation of  the group of Eritreans violated not only international human rights law and customary international law but also Sudanese domestic law.

Both the UNHCR and HRW have condemned  the Sudanese government for  deporting more than 400 Eritreans without confirming whether or not they were granted the opportunity to apply for asylum. UNHCR has urged the Sudanese government to refrain from continuing to deport or force the return of Eritreans to their country of origin, especially when they have not been offered access to asylum and protection.


Read more, visit:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/30/sudan-hundreds-deported-likely-abuse
http://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2016/6/574fed7d4/unhcr-concerned-expulsions-sudan.html
http://www.africanews.com/2016/05/31/sudan-deports-hundreds-of-eritreans/

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