Often praised for having an open-door policy for refugees, Uganda closed its borders in March, leaving thousands of refugees and asylum seekers stranded and unable to enter the country (see 6 April update). Since May, approximately 10,000 refugees have been camped out on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border, having fled escalating violence in eastern […]
Africa
Tunisia: Covid-19 and Detention
Responding to the Global Detention Project Covid-19 survey, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Tunis office reported that on 7 April 2020, the government held an inter-ministerial meeting, which included the Interior Ministry, to discuss measures to be taken with respect to migrants in response to the pandemic. These included the suspension of visa termination […]
Mozambique Immigration Detention Data Profile (2020)
Mozambique Detention Data (2020) The latest detention-related data from Mozambique, including immigration and detention-related statistics, domestic laws and policies, international law, and institutional indicators. View the Mozambique Detention Data Profile Related Reading: Mozambique: Country Page Mozambique: COVID-19 Updates Mozambique: International Law […]
Mozambique: Covid-19 and Detention
On World Refugee Day (20 June), rights groups called on Mozambican authorities to release a group of 16 African refugees and asylum seekers detained in the country since 2019 and who are held in conditions in which their health is not safeguarded. The group, which includes 15 Congolese people and one Ethiopian man, were arrested […]
Algeria: Covid-19 and Detention
Responding to the Global Detention Project’s Covid-19 survey, a non-governmental actor in Algeria reported that expulsions of undocumented people have been halted since 21 March 2020, though information from news sources appears to contradict this claim. The source, who asked to remain anonymous but whose identity was verified by the GDP, said that they did […]
Benin: Covid-19 and Detention
There is little available information about the treatment of migrants or asylum seekers in enforcement procedures in Benin. Shortly after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, on 21 March 2020, visits to prisons were suspended. In early May, more than 400 inmates were released to limit the spread of the virus. At the prison in […]
South Africa: Covid-19 and Detention
Despite some positive steps announced by the South African government, including regarding the non-penalisation of migrants and asylum seekers whose visas expire during the pandemic (see 6 May update), migrants have continued to be arrested throughout the crisis. Some politicians have publicly celebrated these arrests – including Faith Mazibuko, a member of the Executive Council […]
Burkina Faso Immigration Detention Data Profile (2020)
Burkina Faso Detention Data (2020) The latest detention-related data from Burkina Faso, including immigration and detention-related statistics, domestic laws and policies, international law, and institutional indicators. View the Burkina Faso Detention Data Profile Related Reading: Burkina Faso: Country Page Burkina Faso: COVID-19 Updates Burkina Faso: International Law […]
Nigeria Immigration Detention Data Profile (2020)
Nigeria Detention Data (2020) The latest detention-related data from Nigeria, including immigration and detention-related statistics, domestic laws and policies, international law, and institutional indicators. View the Nigeria Detention Data Profile Related Reading: Nigeria: Country Page Nigeria: COVID-19 Updates Nigeria: International Law […]
Nigeria: Covid-19 and Detention
Amnesty International has warned about the potential spread of Covid-19 in the country’s overcrowded prisons and detention centres. It highlights the case of Kaduna Prison which although having a capacity of only 473 inmates, as of early April had “1,480 prisoners; while Enugu Maximum Security Prison with capacity for 638, now has 2,077 prisoners.” In […]
