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