SOME TOGOLESE REFUGEES REPATRIATING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001688 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM TO BN GH SUBJECT: SOME TOGOLESE REFUGEES REPATRIATING ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: A recent UNHCR registration revealed that the overall count of Togolese refugees who fled into Ghana's Volta Region in 2005 has decreased from 11,900 to 6,578. Refugees remain queasy about repatriating, despite evidence that several thousand have quietly done so already without incident. Although UNHCR headquarters in Geneva is not yet prepared to authorize assisted or promoted repatriation, the number of spontaneous repatriations is a hopeful sign that the security situation in Togo is improving. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Ref Coord Assistant traveled to the Volta Region on June 22 for a joint meeting with UNHCR Head of Field Office Anicet Ndayisaba, Rona Rathod (Political and Economic Chief from the Embassy in Lome),and Embassy Lome Political Assistant Jean-Pierre Dessou to discuss the Togolese refugees living in Ghana's Volta Region. Also attending the meeting were Needa Jehu-Hoyah, UNHCR Public Information Officer, and M. Ajith Sunghay, UNHCR Associate Protection Officer. This message was prepared in conjunction with and cleared by Embassy Lome. -------------- UNHCR Verification Exercise -------------- ¶3. (SBU) According to the UNHCR Field Office, their verification exercise, which concluded on May 11, accounted for 6,578 Togolese refugees (of the original 11,900 who fled into Ghana last year). They remain scattered throughout the Volta region in 114 locations. The lower-than-expected number was largely due to a sizeable number of spontaneous returns that took place without UNHCR assistance. ¶4. (U) UNHCR has started distributing agricultural tools and seeds as well as sewing machines for income-generating purposes in the neediest rural areas and plans to extend this program to other areas, such as Ho. While all registered refugees still receive a monthly food ration, eventually the food distribution will be reserved for the most vulnerable. -------------- Possible Resettlement Cases -------------- ¶5. (SBU) UNHCR at this point has not identified any Volta Region cases for resettlement, neither from the old caseload dating from the early 1990's nor from the new. Needa Jeu- Hoyah, UNHCR's Public Information Officer, ageed that a small numbe of refugees would not beable to return to Togo because of their involvemet in opposition politics; although resettlement was a possible durable solution, she didn't believe in uprooting refugees from their familiar environment. -------------- Meeting with Refugees in Ho and Likpe -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The group proceeded to meet with refugees in the regional capital of Ho and in Likpe, a small village within walking distance of the Togolese border. Unfortunately, fear of discovery by the GOT kept some refugees from attending the meeting in Ho. Asked about their possible repatriation, the refugees were quite clear that they did not yet consider it safe to do so. Refugees were not specific about any real or perceived dangers in Togo, and said they had not had further contact with those who had returned. However, refugees in Ho were very concerned about the so-called "men on motos," a small group of unidentified motorcyclists riding without license plates who had appeared in the area three times in the past seven months, inquiring about certain refugees and thus contributing to the general feeling of insecurity. ¶7. (U) Other issues the refugees mentioned were a lack of nutritious food (especially for children),housing and income-generating work. Ghanaians reported informally that the Togolese were welcome to stay as long as necessary, but refugees have encountered difficulties finding work and selling their produce in the local markets. -------------- The View from Lome -------------- ¶8. (U) Prior to this visit, Embassy Lome had heard that refugees were starting to repatriate, especially from Ghana. Togolese human rights groups confirmed this trend, but said the refugees had chosen to maintain a low profile and had not registered with the GOT Refugee Return Office (HCRAH) because of lingering suspicion over GOT motives. By all ACCRA 00001688 002 OF 002 accounts, the returnees are living unmolested in their homes. HCRAH seems to have gotten word of the spontaneous returns and is ramping up its campaign to encourage more Togolese to come home, as evidenced by several large advertisements that have appeared recently in the government- run daily Togo Presse. ¶9. (SBU) Three weeks ago, UNHCR Representative Rafik Saidi, based in Cotonou, met with Ambassador Dunn in Lome. Later that week, Saidi returned with Ghana's UNHCR Representative Aida Mariam Haile to discuss whether the time was right for UNHCR to promote full-scale returns. The Cotonou UNHCR office, which observed a repatriation trend similar to that in Ghana, intended to facilitate the return of 350 Togolese from Benin during the coming weeks. When asked whether it had heard of any reports of government mistreatment of returnees, Embassy Lome explained that through its close contacts with some of the major opposition parties, it had remained apprised of the repatriated refugees' situation and was not aware of any cases of persecution or prosecution. Lome recommended that Saidi contact Jean-Pierre Fabre, Secretary General of the UFC (United Forces of Change), SIPDIS Togo's principal opposition party, for a fuller picture of the returnees' situation. Despite spontaneous returns from both sides of Togo, Saidi believed that Geneva would be hesitant to promote repatriation because of a lack of information. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Comment: In Embassy Lome's view, the primary obstacle to repatriation appears to be a fear of personal score-settling. This fear of personal vendettas, particularly among those who participated in acts of violence or vandalism against neighbors before fleeing Togo, is exacerbated by the concern that the GOT would be unable or disinclined to control any acts of retribution that may occur. Accra's Ref Coord Assistant believes that an even greater obstacle to repatriation is the fear of being targeted because of previous association with opposition politics. ¶11. (SBU) Comment continued: The fact that so many refugees are repatriating without UNHCR assistance offers further evidence of an improvement in the security situation in Togo. Neither Embassy Lome nor Accra, despite their ongoing contacts with refugees, independent journalists, Togolese opposition parties, and interlocutors in rural Togo, has been able to cite any recent negative reactions to the returnees -- a hopeful sign. UNHCR has done an exemplary job managing this difficult caseload. End Comment. BRIDGEWATER