South Africa has arrested seven Kenyans processing refugee applications filed by white South Africans for the United States government. Following their arrest, South Africa has announced that these Kenyans will now be deported.
According to a government statement, the seven Kenyans had entered South Africa on tourist visas. They had then illegally taken up work at a US gov’t refugee processing centre in the country without obtain work visas.
Apparently, this was despite an earlier application for work visas by Kenyan nationals for the processing of these visas was denied by the South African government.
“The presence of foreign officials apparently coordinating with undocumented workers naturally raises serious questions about intent and diplomatic protocol,” a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Following the arrest, the United States has now asked for an explanation from the South African government, accusing it of interfering with its refugees application process.
“We’ll have more to say once all the facts are confirmed, but the Trump Administration will always stand up for US interests, US personnel, and the rule of law,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told the CNN.
The arrest and deportation of Kenyans marks the second time that Kenya is finding herself in the middle of a diplomatic row with SA.
In November, a chartered plane carrying 153 Palestinians was mysteriously cleared to use the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as a stop-over before heading to South Africa.
The Palestinians who were aboard the plane had left the embattled Gaza and crossed into Israel. In Israel, they were put on the chartered plane at Ramon Airport on Wednesday by Israeli officials and members of what has been termed as a ‘shadowy organization’.
The chartered plane then took off and headed southwards. It landed at the JKIA, from where it later took off from, eventually landing at the Oliver Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning.
“These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and came here,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said.
The Kenyan government including agencies running the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport have remained mute over the incident.
READ MORE: Mystery Gaza plane with 153 Palestinians at JKIA stirs diplomatic row
