Asylum seekers detained

THE commissioner of refugees in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, Nkrumah Mushelenga, says the arrest of 15 asylum seekers at the Osire refugee camp was done in accordance with the law.

The 15 were arrested on June 16 and are being held in Police custody at Otjiwarongo. Human rights advocacy organisation Namrights said the Police had separated the asylum seekers, releasing the female asylum seekers back to Osire, while the men were either deported or were in the process of being deported.Namrights said the asylum seekers were accused of being illegal immigrants who continued to live in Namibia even after they had received notices to leave the country within 90 days. Most of the asylum seekers are from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Those from DRC are Charlotte Banza, Bulaba Kalala, Girece Kalala, John Paul Kalala, Mpoyi Kalala, Oscar Kalala, Salomon Kapinga, Moni Kawaya, Nyemba Mwambuyi, Prince Mwanza, Useni Njuma and Helena Nyungu. Three are from Burundi. They are Balthazar Ndoricimpa, Swavis Nyilabangezi and Asumi Sengiyumwa. Mushelenga said asylum seekers are registered upon arrival in Namibia and interviewed to determine their refugee status. Applications are presented to the Namibia Refugee Committee for consideration, after which the commissioner decides whether to grant refugee status. Those whose applications are rejected can appeal to the Namibia Refugee Appeals Board. Asylum seekers are allowed to stay at the Osire settlement while their applications are pending. If their applications and appeals fail, they are given 90 days to leave the country.