By Alan Clement
A civil society organization has called on Kenya to uphold international law and resist attempts to deport South Sudanese officials and activists, currently residing in the country.
Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), in a statement, expressed concerns over reports that personnel from South Sudan had been sent to Kenya with instructions to repatriate individuals without due legal process.
Among those reportedly targeted are senior political figures, including the Deputy Chairman of the SPLA-IO and the First Deputy Speaker.
“Such actions present a serious threat to the principles of human rights and international norms,” warned CPA.
The statement by CPA pointed to a key provision of the 1951 Refugee Convention which prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution or harm as enshrined in the non-refoulement principle.
Kenya is a signatory to this convention, and the rule is also widely recognized under customary international law.
The rights group mentioned past involvement by Kenya in similar deportations most notably the case of human rights advocate James Gatdet Dak as a precedent that drew international condemnation. “Repeating such actions would not only endanger lives but also lessen Kenya’s reputation as a safe haven for political dissidents and refugees,” CPA added.
Efforts to obtain an official response by this outlet from the government of South Sudan regarding the reported deployments were unsuccessful as of publication time.
The Center for Peace and Advocacy urged the Kenyan government to promptly halt any actions or partnerships that could lead to the forced deportation of South Sudanese officials or activists. It reaffirmed that all measures intended to be undertaken must strictly comply with international and regional human rights which Kenya is obliged to observe, resulting in reinforced respect for due processes, rule of law and protection for all individuals within its borders.
CPA further called upon global watchdogs and international partners to be watchful and proactive in defending the critical role Kenya plays as a regional safe haven for people escaping political persecution and violence.