Download logo
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, is celebrating World Refugee Day in Côte d’Ivoire, alongside former refugees who have returned home ahead of the formal end of Ivorian refugee status later this month.
The process to formally end refugee status – the application of cessation clauses – for Ivorian refugees comes into effect on 30 June, acknowledging the end of an era of displacement for hundreds of thousands of Ivorian refugees. After two decades’ worth of political instability and intermittent civil conflict in West Africa, the cessation or refugee status has been lifted.
In the midst of rising global forced displacement, it is encouraging to see that a crisis that forced more than 300,000. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency said last month that the war in Ukraine and other ongoing crises had increased the number of people fleeing persecution and conflict around the world to over 100 million.
At a ceremony in Abidjan hosted by the President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, and featuring national representatives and ambassadors from countries that hosted Ivorian refugees, the High Commissioner met former refugee families and wished them well on their return home.
“For those of us in UNHCR, nothing is better than witnessing the end of exile. Ivorian refugees are now able to return home safely and with dignity after twenty years. They are proud Ivorians – living and working in their own communities or in neighboring countries,” Grandi said. “I was happy to spend Saturday with Ivorian refugees returning home. The return of hundreds of thousands of Ivorians demonstrates to the region – and the world – what is possible when there is political will to end violence and true cooperation among nations.”
The cessation clauses provide that countries hosting Ivorian refugees are encouraged and obligated to facilitate their voluntary repatriation, or for those Ivorians who choose to remain, to facilitate local integration, acquisition permanent residency, and naturalization.
Ivorians fled the country in two waves after civil strife between 2002-2007 and 2011, 2012 and 2012. Fears of violence related to presidential and parliamentary election results led to thousands of people fleeing to neighboring countries in 2020.
More than 310,000 Ivorian refugees have returned home, representing 96% of all West African registered refugees. Nearby Liberia is hosting over 11,000 Ivorians who are returning home from their 14,000-plus year-long journey. UNHCR organizes weekly transportation for Ivorians who wish to return home. While Ivorians who return home to Ivory will face some challenges, the Government has promised its support. Local communities are welcoming them back.
Grandi traveled to Liberia on 18 June to accompany Ivorian refugees. They crossed the river that marks the border between the two countries by ferry. The Liberian authorities handed birth certificates to Ivorian counterparts at crossing to ensure that returning Ivorian refugees can register for voting, enroll their children in school, and obtain national identity cards.
The High Commissioner pledged UNHCR’s continued support to Côte d’Ivoire and the countries that hosted Ivorian refugees to implement the cessation clauses and assist all those wishing to return home.
Distributed by APO Group for United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR).
APO issued this Press Release. The content is not under the control of African Business. It has not been validated or checked by our editorial teams, proof-readers or fact-checkers. This announcement is solely the responsibility of the issuer.
Source: african.business
