Kenya is calling for the closure of two large refugee camps on its territory. There are more than 500,000 refugees in the Dadaab and Kakuma sites, mainly Somalis for the first and South Sudanese for the second. Nairobi cites security reasons. A message that worries but whose application promises to be extremely complex.
The Minister of the Interior gave humanitarian workers 14 days to establish a timetable for closure. Fred Matiangi said there was “no more room for negotiation” and that the government had “an obligation to protect Kenya”, citing terrorist attacks planned from the camps.
Since 2016, this is at least the third time that Kenya is trying to close Dadaab, the camp is located near Somalia. Initially, Justice considered that Nairobi could not force the refugees to return. Then, in 2019, diplomacy played a role. “Donor countries had lobbied and involved aid that benefits the country,” an expert said, adding that the government had received millions of dollars in support of respecting this ruling.
Many people see this new attempt as a pressure on Somalia, State with which relations are very strained. “Apart from this time, it seems more serious, because Kakuma is also targeted,” said a humanitarian.
This camp is mostly populated by South Sudanese and the security argument raises questions. “It is a model when it comes to integration with local populations. The safety problems look like a worn-out catch phrase that does not apply to Kakuma either, says an observer.
Dismantling these camps promises to be a titanic task, both logistically and humanly. Many refugees were born in Kenya or formed families there. Not to mention the conditions for returning to Somalia and South Sudan, far from ideal.
