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Refugee dispute with UN ends

    ABIDJAN

    A group of refugees who were occupying UNHCR premises in the Niger capital, Niamey, for over a week left the building on Wednesday, Fani Chaiboue, the officer in charge told IRIN.

    He said on Friday that about 40 refugees, the majority from the Democratic Republic of Congo, invaded the courtyard and refused UN employees access for 10 days. They were demonstrating in solidarity with a handful of refugees who faced assault charges following an official complaint lodged by Chaiboue. One of the main reasons for the assault, which took place at the end of July, Chaiboue said, was refugee dissatisfaction over their resettlement. The protesters vacated the premises following talks between them, the bishop of Niamey, the UNHCR and the government’s Commission Nationale de l’Egibilite. The situation has now returned to normal and talks are ongoing to ensure there is no repetition, Chaiboue added.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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