Fresh Caprivi asylum seekers enter Botswana

A “trickle” of Caprivi asylum seekers continue to cross into Botswana from Namibia, some claiming to be active supporters of Caprivi separatist rebels, an African diplomat told IRIN on Wednesday. Between August and the end of September, 18 asylum seekers arrived in Botswana, with eight of them claiming to be involved “in one way or another” with the secessionist Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA). Over the past few weeks, a further 32 have arrived, with seven of them admitting CLA ties. Active involvement in criminal activities would make them excludable as refugees, the diplomat said. “It is understood that the Namibian government won’t be pronouncing on their eligibility until after the (16 October) elections,” he added. The envoy pointed out that the strong Namibian military presence in the towns of the Caprivi Strip means that “the situation is quiet, but its very difficult to say that it’s over and there could be (CLA) activity out in the bush.”