REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR FRANCOIS NIYIBIZI

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000568 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2017 TAGS: PREF PHUM GH CO SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR FRANCOIS NIYIBIZI REF: 03 STATE 326486 Classified By: Ref Coord Nate Bluhm for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Embassy Accra hereby refers Rwandan Francois Niyibizi, his wife and two children to the United States resettlement program. Francois Niyibizi fled with his wife in July 1994 towards Goma in former Zaire when the genocide started. He feared for their safety as his wife is Hutu-Tutsi. They eventually reached Benin in 1996. From May 13 - 20, 2006, Mr. Niyibizi testified at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha. While he was testifying, his wife received anonymous threatening phone calls saying that her husband was a traitor. Since his return to Benin, Mr. Niyibizi has received anonymous letters in his native language threatening him and his family. The family feels insecure at their current place of refuge and do not believe they can safely return to Rwanda. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The referral is for the following persons: Francois Niyibizi, DOB: 22 Feb 1967, POB: Mbogo, Kigali, Rwanda Alphonsine Uwizeye, DOB: 11 Mar 1970, POB: Mugambazi, Kigali, Rwanda (wife) Alain Patrick Ishimwe, DOB: 1 Jan 1998, POB: Cotonou, Benin (son) Deodat Anastase Iradukunda, DOB: 20 Jun 2002, POB: Cotonou, Benin (son) ¶3. (C) Mr. Niyibizi attended primary and secondary schools in Mbogo and Nyanza from 1973 to 1987, and studied at the National Rwandan University in Butare in 1998. He taught at the primary school in Gaseke from 1987 to 1988 and worked in various positions (last position Assistant Director) at the Hotel Amahoro in Kigali from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, he joined BP FINA Rwanda as manager of two petrol stations in Gisenyi. When the genocide started, Mr Niyibizi and his wife decided to leave the area for Goma (in former Zaire),fearing for their safety as a "mixed" couple. They left Goma in December 1994 and went to the nearby refugee camp called Mugunga because of the perceived insecurity in Goma itself. In August of 1995, refugees at camps in Nord Kivu were forcibly repatriated to Rwanda. Fearing that forced repatriation would eventually take place in Mugunga camp, the couple decided to leave Zaire in February 1996, arriving in Kenya on February 24, 1996 and in Benin on March 6, 1996. ¶4. (C) Mr. Niyibizi decided to stay in Benin as he did not feel safe returning to Rwanda. Several of his family members had been in prison without trial and other family members who returned in 1996 disappeared. He and his wife received refugee status in January 1997. Since his arrival in Benin, he was able to attend the University of Abomey-Calavi and graduated with a Masters degree in Tourism and Hotel Management in 2004. Since then he has nevertheless been unable to find work to support his family. ¶5. (C) In May 2006, Mr. Niyibizi testified at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha. Since then, both he and his wife have received threating phone calls and letters and fear for the safety of their family in Benin. ¶6. (C) Embassy Accra was able to confirm that Francois Niyibizi testified at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda with Mr. Emmanuel Onoja, Head of Judicial Protection Unit of WVSS, UNICTR. We believe resettlement represents the best and safest durable solution for him and his family. ¶7. (SBU) This cable was cleared by Embassy Cotonou. Embassy Kigali has no objections to the referral, although it is unable to confirm the details of this case. BRIDGEWATER