January 7, 2002

UPDATE ON THE CONDITIONS OF ETHIOPIAN REFUGEES IN THE SUDAN

 The Sudanese authorities have continued with the rounding up of Ethiopian refugees and the fates of hundreds, if not thousands, hangs on a balance.

On January 1/2002, more than forty Ethiopian refugees were rounded up in Khartoum and taken to detention centers by Sudanese security officers. The refugees who were rounded up from various spots were first taken to the Office for Registration of Aliens under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and then classified into three groups: Group A being those pre 1991 refugees who have arbitrarily been denied refugees status by the UNHCR; Group B being the post 1991 refugees whose refugees IDs have not been renewed by the Sudanese authorities because the renewal was suspended by the Sudan; and Group C being those with Ethiopian passports lacking valid Sudanese residence permits. Group B and C were released soon after while the pre 1991 refugees, political refugees whose deportation had been often asked by the EPRDF, were harassed, threatened, told to seek "passports from the EPRDF embassy" and released with caution only on January 2 at 4.00pm. Again on January 5, dozens of Ethiopian refugees were picked up from their houses, from bus stops, etc.. and interrogated and harassed for the whole day while some 40 foreigners from Arab countries who had been detained were released within two hours. The harassment action continues.

The rounding up of refugees follows the bilateral high level meeting between the EPRDF and the Sudanese officials. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is expected in Khartoum ion January 7. The action does not augur well since there are unconfirmed but believable reports that the EPRDF and the Sudan have secretly agreed to have Ethiopian political refugees deported back to Ethiopia. The Sudan deported to Ethiopia more than 51 refugees who were known to be members of the opposition EPRP (one of these Azanaw Demile is officially registered by SOCEPP As one of the "disappeared").

 Call on the government of the Sudan to stop the harassment and jailing of Ethiopian refugees and write to the UNHCR to denounce its complicity and silence.