LGBTQ Kakuma refugees decide to move to South Sudan camp in hope of repatriation

Nakafeero and friend.
Queer LGBTQ activists like Nakafeero and Elvis are taking their groups of Ugandan refugees to the Gorom camp in South Sudan, where there are real chances of being repatriated to a much more safer country.

As reported many of the LGBTQ refugees in the Kakuma camp in Kenya are feeling increasingly unsafe. They have gotten messages from a public official noting that the Kenyan government is not recognizing the LGBTQ status of any refugee in their camp and that being queer or trans is not seen as a valid reason for getting protection as refugees.

Here's an email Edward, a member of the Kakuma LGBTQ-community, got from a Kenyan commissioner: 

Edward, The Refugee Act No. 10 of 2021 has NO PROVISION on sexual orientation as a criteria for admission into the country as an Asylum Seeker. Be advised that such cannot therefore form a basis of your being recognized through RSD to be a refugee. You cannot and shall not be granted status on basis of your sexual orientation. Neither does the Kenya Constitution recognize such things as Human Rights. Your continued stay in Kenya is therefore not based on Refugee Law and you may be arrested for being in Kenya illegally. Be advised accordingly. John Burugu Commissioner

The Gorom refugee camp in South Sudan is not necessarily a safer place for the Ugandan refugees, but both the Canadian and US governments have officials in place who are organizing repatriation for refugees, including those LGBTQ.

Elvis, a friend and ally of Nakafeero, has already taken their group of around 10 refugees to Gorom and they tell me that "another 20 mates have been confirmed resettled to Canada now totaling to about 50 at the moment as the rest of us await for the 🇺🇸 USA embassy upcoming this month."

Unlike the Kakuma camp, the Gorom camp is seeing the end of its life. South Sudanese refugees are being moved out, and several governments are helping resettle the non-Sudanese ones. In other words: Our LGBTQ-refugees are hopeful that they too will be given refugee elsewhere.

Our German friend and ally, Juliana, has set up a TikTok account where she is sharing reports from the LGBTQ-activists in Kakuma and Gorom, Nakafeero and Elvis included. You can find these videos here:

Nakafeero and Karim show how the Kenyan government has threatened them with arrest after holding them in the Kakuma refugee camp for years

Elvis talks about his interview for resettlement from South Sudan

The plan now is to move the rest of the Ugandan LGBTQ-refugees from Kakuma in Kenya to Gorom in South Sudan. That will take some time and cost some money. We will keep you posted on how that goes. In the meantime we still need your support, ensuring that the refugees have the necessities needed: food, sanitary products, medicine and so one.

We are also working on a school project for the kids in Kakuma and Gorom. Both camps provide rudimentary schooling for the children, but children of LGBTQ-refugees are harassed by both adults and other kids, and going to school goes from being directly unpleasant to straight out dangerous. Because of this the plan is to home school the kids. I will let you know more about this soon.

Eddie talks about the duration, dangers and costs of the journey from Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya to South Sudan

Nakafeero, Elvis and their extended LGBTQ families in Kakuma and Gorom continue to need your help. Any amount is welcome!

Nakafeero & Co's crowd funding.

Elvis & Co's crowd funding.

Per Koch
Oslo, Norway

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