Arrest of Sudanese Refugees in South Sudan

Security authorities in Rumbek, Lakes State, South Sudan, arrested a number of Sudanese refugees over failure to pay fees related to residency and immigration procedures, before transferring some of them to the town of Aweil in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, according to a statement issued by Sudanese refugees in the city.

The refugees said the authorities demanded that they pay US$90 to complete the procedures for an immigration card, locally known as “Migration,” noting that their economic circumstances make them unable to pay the fees.

The statement, seen by Darfur24, explained that the detainees hold cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but are facing difficulties in completing their residency procedures.

It added that the authorities arrested Saddam Dousa, head of the Sudanese community in Rumbek; Mohamed Ismail, deputy Sultan of the Zaghawa; Sultan Hashim, Sultan of the Masalit; and Sultan Dabanga, Sultan of the Tunjur, before transferring them to Aweil in preparation for deporting them to Sudan.

The refugees said they do not know the actual reasons behind the arrests and transfers, while the authorities justified the measures on the grounds of failure to pay residency fees, according to the statement.