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IOM Libya and Mali assist vulnerable and stranded Malians to return home
GENEVA – Upon request of the Malian Government, IOM carried out last week an operation to assist the voluntary return of 163 Malians stranded in Libya for several months.
Most of the stranded migrants in this group had initially left Mali for Algeria. With the money earned working in the Northern African country they jointly bought a boat to make their way towards Lampedusa in late July, an island known as a prime transit point for migrants wanting to enter Europe, particularly those originating from Africa.
On their way to Lampedusa, the migrants got lost at sea until they were rescued by a Gibraltar ship in Libyan national waters and transported to Tripoli.
Migrants were transferred to the Alhamra center in Libya (80 km away from Tripoli), in the wait of returning home.
“The plight of these stranded migrants had been weighing on us for some time, and IOM Tripoli was keen to see them safely home,” says Othman Belbeisi, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Libya.
IOM ensured that the migrants, who lost most of their belongings during their difficult journeys, were returned with as much support as possible. IOM purchased and provided each returnee with clothes and shoes. The eldest of the returnees was 49 years of age, and the group included also four minors. The group was accompanied by an IOM operational escort and an IOM medical doctor from Tripoli to Bamako, the latter to provide support to a migrant suffering from a medical condition.
“I cannot believe that after all these months of struggle, I will be going home to my family,” said one of the migrants expressing his great excitement prior to getting on the plane.
The return of these migrants took weeks of preparation to ensure that the returnees were fit to travel, had the necessary documents and were taken home in a dignified and safe manner.
Upon arrival, the migrants were welcomed by the Malian Government. The General Directorate for Civil Protection (DGPC) in coordination with IOM Mali moved the migrants to a reception center in Bamako where they were provided with food, health and shelter.
After having been registered by IOM and DGPC, the migrants received assistance from IOM psychologists and protection specialists. Telephones were made available for the migrants to contact their families.
Out of the four minors identified within the group, two were reunited with their families upon arrival. The Malian National Directorate for the Promotion of Children and the Family (DNPEF) agreed to temporary guardianship of the two other minors until they are reunited with their families.
Transportation to the final destinations is now being arranged by the Malian Government.
“IOM would like to ensure that the returnees are not made vulnerable to exploitation or additional dangerous journeys, by providing them with economic options and stability to continue their lives,” said Belbeisi. “But we need additional financial support to provide reintegration assistance to the migrants and their families.”
This is also a wish shared by the returnees. “Reintegration assistance would really help us to re-establish our lives. If there is more help in Mali, not many people would leave to look for work,” said one of the returnees on his way home.
IOM works in close partnership with the Libyan Government to assist migrants in need. This important return effort was made possible with funding support under IOM Libya’s programmes which are funded by the Italian Government and the European Union.
Students of the University of Calabar have raised serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of several hostels on campus, with many fearing that the buildings could collapse due to structural damage.
The alarming situation was highlighted during a phone-in segment of the university’s Unical International Radio programme, What I Will Do If I Had Power to Run Unical, on Thursday evening.
Students, particularly those residing in Hostels 8 and 9, expressed deep worry about the growing number of cracks appearing on the walls, exacerbated by the ongoing heavy rains in Calabar.
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These cracks, they fear, could lead to the collapse of the structures, posing a significant safety risk to residents.
Jane, a female student from Malabo Republic, spoke out on the programme, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue.
She said, “If I had the power to run this school, the first thing I would do is initiate a massive renovation of the hostels, especially those in Malabo Republic.
“The cracks in the walls of halls 1, 2, 4, 8, and 9 are major safety concerns. The rains we’ve been having could worsen the situation and lead to a disaster. These walls could cave in at any time, and the consequences could be devastating.”
Other students echoed similar concerns, highlighting the lack of basic amenities such as electricity, which has contributed to unhygienic conditions within the hostels.
This has led to unhealthy activities in the dormitories, further adding to the students’ frustrations.
In response to the complaints, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Florence Bankong Obi, assured the students that the issue had been noted and that action would be taken to address the dilapidated state of the hostels.
“We are aware of the situation, and it has already been included in our plans for immediate action,” Prof. Obi stated.
The students are now calling on the university administration, as well as the Students’ Union Government, to prioritize the renovation of the hostels and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.
The Ikeja High Court has scheduled January 23 for the hearing of a high-profile defamation case filed by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, musician and activist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, against social media personality Vincent Otse, also known as “VeryDarkMan” (VDM).
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel for Falana and Falz, Mr. Muiz Banire (SAN), informed the court that the necessary documents, including the originating process, had been filed and served to the opposing party.
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Banire added that a motion on notice was served on October 25, though Justice Matthias Dawodu noted that the originating process was not currently before the court.
To address the matter, Banire requested an adjournment to allow for administrative filings to be properly completed.
“In this circumstance, my lord, the best thing to do is to adjourn the matter so that we can go back to the registry to file all the administrative processes,” Banire told the court.
In response, counsel for VeryDarkMan, Mr. Marvin Omorogbe, raised concerns about the procedural validity of the case, asserting that there was no valid writ of summons before the court.
Omorogbe argued that the current writ was legally invalid and urged the court to dismiss the case on those grounds.
Justice Dawodu ultimately granted the adjournment request, setting the hearing for January 23 to allow the claimants time to address the procedural issues.
A Rwandan soldier has reportedly opened fire inside a bar, resulting in the deaths of five civilians in a southwestern Rwandan town.
The incident, which took place early Wednesday, led to the arrest of the soldier, identified by the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) as a 39-year-old sergeant. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, according to the army’s statement.
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“The RDF has arrested the suspect and will take necessary legal action against him,” said the military in an official release.
In a similar case, Rwandan soldiers faced accusations in 2020 after allegedly raping and assaulting civilians during the Covid lockdown in the Kangondo slum of Kigali, the nation’s capital. The incident, involving six soldiers, raised significant public concern at the time.
This tragic event has drawn national and international attention, with calls for swift justice for the victims.
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