MAURITANIAN REFUGEES: THE DILEMMA OF RETURN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 001764 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL AND INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PREF MR SG SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN REFUGEES: THE DILEMMA OF RETURN REF: A) Dakar 1570 B)Dakar 1577 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On July 31, Poloff visited refugee villages in Dagana and Dodel to seek the opinions of refugees regarding recent initiatives by the Mauritanian Government inviting them to return home and President Wade's statement that those who wish to remain in Senegal will be granted Senegalese citizenship. Poloff also visited the local UNHCR office in Podor. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Many refugees welcomed a high level Mauritanian delegation led by the Minister Interior sent to Senegal to visit them. The refugees stated that this was an: "acknowledgement of the government's responsibility for their deportation in 1989." The refugees demand that their return be organized under the auspices of UNHCR and that full reparations be paid for prejudices sustained. These conditions and the insistence by some for the prosecution of Mauritanian officials they accuse of having committed crimes at the time of deportation are significant obstacles ahead. There appears to be a dilemma for many refugees we spoke to who are proud of their Mauritanian citizenship, reject President Wade's offer of Senegalese citizenship, but who also fear that their economic situations may deteriorate after they return home and that their children will lose the educational opportunities they currently have in Senegal. THE MAURITANIAN GOVERNMENT CARES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) One of the youth leaders in the refugee village of Dagana indicated that many refugees living in the River Valley, up to Bakel were visited by the Minister of Interior's delegation. He noted with satisfaction that: "the Government of Mauritania has recognized the deportation we suffered and has asked for forgiveness." He commented that there is goodwill and openness on the part of the Government of Mauritania which inspires confidence that this time the initiative for return is serious. He noted that the only time the Mauritanian delegation was uncooperative is when refugees raised the issue of prosecuting those crimes perpetrated by security forces during the deportation. UNHCR IS UNDERTAKING A NEW CENSUS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) UNHCR has recently completed the census of the refugee population. The census was carried out by university students attending the University of Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar and the University of Gaston Berger in St Louis. Almost all villages have been taken into account except those of nomadic herdsmen who have traveled south with their cattle in search of grazing land. This new census will provide updated figures to correct the estimate of 20,000 that has been used for several years. OBSTACLES TO ORGANIZED RETURN -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Refugee leaders emphasized the need for a signed agreement between Mauritania, UNHCR, and Senegal to offer them guarantees about the conditions under which they will return. They are particularly concerned about their lands and homes which are now occupied by others, and the reinstatement of civil servants to their former jobs. They demand reparations for property lost and crimes committed during the deportation. Meanwhile, many refugees who have been living for 18 years in Senegal have now acquired or been given land and have their children in local French-language schools and universities. The fear is that their children will lose these educational opportunities after they return to a totally different Mauritanian education system dominated by the use of Arabic. MEETING UNHCR -------------- ¶6. (SBU) During a stop in the border town of Podor, Poloff called on UNHCR's local representative, Thian Doum, who works for a local NGO that UNHCR contracted to manage the issue of Mauritanian refugees. This one-man office has responsibility for all of the refugees in some 280 villages along a 450 km swath of border from Dagna to Bakel. Mr. Doum told us that in 1989 there were over 60,000 refugees in Senegal and that he believes today's number could be significantly higher than the oft-quoted 20,000 as many have had families while in Senegal. While visiting the village of Dagna, we were shown a questionnaire that UNHCR had handed out to all the refugees and were told that by the aforementioned youth leaders their worry that many of the questions were extremely open-ended. Of particular concern were those related to property and previous employment focusing only on people who used to work for the civil service rather than herdsman and farmers who make up the bulk of the refugees. When asked about this, Mr. Doum asked not to be quoted and then agreed, adding it was very likely that UNHCR had used a generic format. COMMENT -------------- DAKAR 00001764 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) For several years the Senegalese and past Mauritanian Governments have conspicuously avoided the divisive issue of refugees to maintain a fragile entente cordiale. The recent visit of the Mauritanian President to Senegal and the steps that both governments and UNHCR have since taken to address an issue which has been a bone of contention since 1989 is encouraging. The current Mauritanian government's approach has warmed relationships between the two countries and created hopes for the refugees. However, negotiating conditions of return acceptable to all parties may prove to be a frustrating and lengthy process. SMITH