UNITED NATIONS RIGHTS EXPERT CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT VISA BANS ON SOMALI PASSPORT HOLDERS

1 June 2004


The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia issued the following statement today:


The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Dr Ghanim Alnajjar, is concerned about the recent decisions by the Governments of Kenya and the United Arab Emirates(UAE) to stop issuing visas to holders of Somali passports.

The decisions will likely have a deleterious economic effect on countless Somalis because many imports to war-torn Somalia come through the UAE. The bans will also prevent Somali nationals who need to enter Kenya and UAE from obtaining services that they cannot get in their country such as medication, health services and access to international flights abroad.

The Governments of the UAE and Kenya, for their part, state that Somali passports are widely forged raising security and illegal migration concerns.

Dr Alnajjar is worried about the drastic consequences that this decision might cause on the livelihood of the Somalis and considers that at this time when the Somali National Reconciliation Conference is moving forward, the international community must work together to support efforts towards peace, stability and progress for the Somali people.

For more information on the Independent Expert, visit the following Web address: www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/a/msom.htm