West African migrants nearing the coast of the Canary Islands

© afrol News / Agencia Española de Rescate Marítimo

afrol News, 1 June - Shocked by the humiliating conditions in which 99 illegal Senegalese immigrants were repatriated from Spain's Canary Islands, the Dakar government has suspended the foreseen repatriation of 524 further migrants. Arriving Dakar, the handcuffed returnees spoke of "treason", as they had been promised a flight to the Spanish mainland. They never had agreed to repatriation.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs today confirmed it had received a diplomatic note from Senegal, saying that the recent bilateral agreement on repatriation of illegal immigrants to Spain would be suspended with immediate effect. The suspension comes only one day after the first group of 99 Senegalese - out of a group of 623 recent arrivers to the Canary Islands - had been flown back to Dakar.

Senegalese authorities had been shocked at the treatment of its nationals by Spanish authorities. Two Senegalese ministers - Usmane Ngom of the Interior and Farba Senghor of Agriculture - yesterday met with the group of 99 repatriated to investigate reports of a poor handling of the repatriation by Spanish authorities.

Minister Senghor, after meeting the returnees, told the press he "deplored the conditions of the repatriation." The migrants had been handcuffed and made to believe they were heading for Malaga on the Spanish mainland, he confirmed, indicating "international laws" had been disrespected. Minister Ngom lamented that Spanish authorities had "not respected the dignity of the immigrants." As a result, he demanded - and achieved - a suspension of the repatriation deal.

The Senegalese press has reacted strongly to the forced and undignified repatriation of its citizens. The returnees told the press of "treason" and "frustrations", finding much sympathy. "Because we love our country, we told them who have brought us to Senegal that we are Senegalese, while others refused telling because they said they thus could be repatriated," a returnee said.

Samba Ndao Dieng, the spokesman of the migrants, told the independent Senegalese daily 'Le Quotidien' that "two women and three men, who assured us they worked for the Senegalese government, came to see us and pretended they wanted to help us. They told us we would be taken to Malaga and Madrid, were we would have to wait 40 days to officially enter into Spain. We were put into a plane, and there, we were handcuffed with two policemen behind every one of us until we arrived Dakar."

For Mr Dieng, this was "treason, but the Spanish Red Cross treated us well, visiting and feeding us. They even called to our relatives in Spain, who assured us they would provide us with housing. We were only lacking a few days to be able to enter Spain and start working."

Still, they do not doubt that they will try to return a second time, despite the great risks of the journey on which so many have died. "At one moment of the journey, we were closer to death than to life, to the point that some started to write their names and origins on the pirogue to be remembered if they should die. But this would not stop me from returning if I had money now. I have a wife and a son to feed," Samba Ndao Niang told 'Le Quotidien'.

Most of the migrants had to pull together the necessary franc CFA 800,000 (euro 1,200) from their parents. "My mother had to sell her jewellery," one said, "mi father got indebted to be able to pull me out of misery," another said.

Arriving Dakar, they finally understood how they had been manipulated, and in their desperation, the migrants refused to leave the airplane. Senegalese authorities had to negotiate with the returnees to make them enter a waiting bus, Colonel Mamadou Adje of the national committee for the management of the repatriated revealed to 'Le Quotidien'. "They refused to enter the bus, because in contrast to other returnees, they had not been repatriated voluntarily."

Given this situation, the returnees have demanded a compensation of CFA 800,000 from Senegalese authorities. Agriculture Minister Senghor however only offered each of them CFA 10,000 (euro 15) to pay for their return home. The modest amount was to be paid this Friday at a reception in the Dakar city hall.

Minister Senghor has also mentioned long-term plans to reintegrate the migrants in to the Senegalese society and discourage them from giving it another try. An inclusion in the government "Return to Agriculture" programme (REVA) has been proposed, however meeting scepticism from the returnees. "We are not farmers. What could we do with the soil? The best way to help us is to give us the work they have taken from us," declares Omar Kane to 'Le Quotidien'.

While many of the returnees and Senegalese authorities are making Spain responsible for the undignified repatriation, spokesman Dieng also holds Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade responsible. "Now we know that it was Wade [signing a repatriation deal with Spain] who stood behind the repatriation, because Spanish authorities always told us that our future stay in Spain would depend on the willingness of our own country." They even had been given papers to fill out that would have legalised their stay, Mr Dieng bitterly added.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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