https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240422/short-holiday-that-lasted-16-years-how-uks-mistake-made-somali-refugee-stuck-in-east-africa-1066178662.html
'Short Holiday' That Lasted 16 Years: How UK's Mistake Made Somali Refugee Stuck in East Africa
'Short Holiday' That Lasted 16 Years: How UK's Mistake Made Somali Refugee Stuck in East Africa
Sputnik Africa
Back in 2008, 18-year-old Ali, a legal Somali migrant in the UK, who was granted asylum with his family when he was a kid, traveled to East Africa for medical... 22.04.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-04-22T16:05+0200
2024-04-22T16:05+0200
2024-04-22T16:26+0200
sub-saharan africa
united kingdom (uk)
djibouti
east africa
international
rishi sunak
migration
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Saleh Ahmed Handule Ali, a refugee who left the UK as a teenager in 2008 for a wellness vacation in Djibouti, has been stranded in East Africa for almost 16 years, the British media reported on Monday.According to the report, Ali, who is now 33, immigrated to the UK from Somalia in April 2000 at the age of nine, accompanied by his mother and two younger siblings. They arrived to reunite with Ali's father, who had been officially recognized as a refugee by the UK government. The family was also acknowledged as refugees by the Home Office (UK's Ministry of Internal Affairs), and in 2004 Ali received a travel document under the refugee convention, which was valid for a decade.However, he lost his refugee travel document during the journey and thus couldn't fly back home. Since there is no British embassy in Djibouti, he had to go to neighboring Ethiopia, where he made at least two unsuccessful attempts to obtain assistance from the embassy.Furthermore, in June 2015, Ali was denied permission by a Home Office entry clearance officer to return to the UK. However, Ali's family did not give up and, having saved money, began a legal battle. They appealed to the first tier and to the upper tribunal of the immigration court, but their appeals were rejected.Only then was it revealed that the Home Office had neglected to enter in its database the information indicating that it had given him permission to stay in the UK as a refugee indefinitely. In a court's appeal ruling of last week, it was stated that "he has been stranded in Ethiopia, undocumented, ever since."Ali is undocumented in Ethiopia and unable to work. He lives in poverty and survives only on the money his mother sends him.The ruling, which upheld Ali's appeal against the refusal of his case and sent it back to the upper tribunal, was critical of trial tribunal judge Adam Rhys-Davies and said there was a clear error of law when he dismissed Ali's case, according to the media outlet.However, Ali's ordeal is not over yet as further review of the case could take months, his lawyer said, according to the report.The UK's migration policies have recently caused controversy as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda, but his plans have been criticized and delayed due to legal issues. For example, in late March, the UN Human Rights Committee called on the UK to drop the controversial plan as it "discriminates against migrants" and "seeks to limit access to rights for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants."
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'Short Holiday' That Lasted 16 Years: How UK's Mistake Made Somali Refugee Stuck in East Africa
16:05 22.04.2024 (Updated: 16:26 22.04.2024) Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
Back in 2008, 18-year-old Ali, a legal Somali migrant in the UK, who was granted asylum with his family when he was a kid, traveled to East Africa for medical treatment. However, despite having indefinite leave to remain in the UK, he was never able to return home.
Saleh Ahmed Handule Ali, a
refugee who left the UK as a teenager in 2008 for a wellness vacation in Djibouti, has been stranded in East Africa for almost 16 years, the British media reported on Monday.
According to the report, Ali, who is now 33, immigrated to the UK from
Somalia in April 2000 at the age of nine, accompanied by his mother and two younger siblings. They arrived to reunite with Ali's father, who had been officially recognized as a refugee by the UK government. The family was also acknowledged as refugees by the Home Office (UK's Ministry of Internal Affairs), and in 2004 Ali received a travel document under the refugee convention, which was valid for a decade.
After being diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2008, Ali reportedly made the decision to take a quick vacation to Djibouti, hoping that the warmer weather would speed up his recovery.
However, he lost his refugee travel document during the journey and thus couldn't fly back home. Since there is no British embassy in
Djibouti, he had to go to neighboring Ethiopia, where he made at least two unsuccessful attempts to obtain assistance from the embassy.
Furthermore, in June 2015, Ali was denied permission by a Home Office entry clearance officer to return to the UK. However, Ali's family did not give up and, having saved money, began a legal battle. They appealed to the first tier and to the upper tribunal of the immigration
court, but their appeals were rejected.
Only then was it revealed that the
Home Office had neglected to enter in its database the information indicating that it had given him permission to stay in the UK as a refugee indefinitely. In a court's appeal
ruling of last week, it was stated that "he has been stranded in
Ethiopia, undocumented, ever since."
Ali is undocumented in Ethiopia and unable to work. He lives in poverty and survives only on the money his mother sends him.
“I have been crying for 16 years over the loss of my son,” his mother, Shamis Dirya, said, as cited by the media. “We want the Home Office to bring him back to us. But they are not listening to us. [...] Sometimes we don’t even know whether he’s alive. He went to primary school here, he went to high school here. He only went to Djibouti for a short holiday.”
Lady Justice Andrews, the presiding judge of the court of appeal, reportedly stated in the three-judge panel's decision: “This is by any standards and in many different respects a most extraordinary case.”
The ruling, which upheld Ali's appeal against the refusal of his case and sent it back to the upper tribunal, was critical of trial tribunal judge Adam Rhys-Davies and said there was a clear error of law when he dismissed Ali's case, according to the media outlet.
However, Ali's ordeal is not over yet as further review of the case could take months, his lawyer said, according to the report.
The UK's migration policies have recently caused controversy as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda, but his plans have been criticized and
delayed due to legal issues. For example, in late March, the UN Human Rights Committee
called on the UK to drop the controversial plan as it "discriminates against migrants" and "seeks to limit access to rights for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants."
