Guinea: Treatment of returned failed asylum seekers by authorities; treatment of members of the Rally for the Guinean People (RPG) and RPG Arc-en-ciel who left the country prior to the party coming into power (2010-June 2016)
1. Treatment of Returnees, Including Failed Asylum Seekers
Information on treatment of failed asylum seekers returning to Guinea could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to a briefing note on Guinea published by the European Reintegration Network (ERIN) [1], the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Guinea "is currently collaborating with more than 25 countries on AVRR [Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration] projects to assist a large number of clients to return to/from (Guinea) and reintegrate into their home country in a sustainable manner" (ERIN n.d., 5). The same source states that the IOM facilitated the return and reintegration of more than 2,500 Guineans between 2013 and 2014 (ibid.). The website of the IOM office in Belgium specifies that the beneficiaries of AVRR projects implemented between 2014 and 2015 in that country were asylum seekers who were awaiting their refugee claim decisions and failed asylum seekers who received an order to leave Belgium (IOM n.d.).
In its report to the UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the government of Guinea indicates that it established a "Ministry responsible for Guineans abroad" whose mission is, among others, to promote "the return of Guineans from abroad and their integration" (Guinea 11 Aug. 2015, para.149). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the President of the Guinean chapter of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) [2] stated that, in cases of voluntary returns, which are coordinated by the IOM, the personnel from the Ministry of Territorial Administration (Ministère de l'Administration du Territoire) organises the reception of returnees and ensures they are reunited with their families (WANEP 21 July 2016). However, he also indicated that persons who were subject to a forced return do not benefit from the government's support, although authorities sometimes assist with their reception at the airport and with sending them to their home prefectures (ibid.).
The UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, in its Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Guinea, expressed concern over the difficulties Guinea is facing "in facilitating the long-term economic, social and cultural reintegration of Guineans who return" to the country (UN 8 Oct. 2015, para. 49). Similarly, in their remarks addressed to the same Committee, the Guinean delegation stated that Guinean refugees returning from abroad impact the "social fabric" of the country, adding that "[t]here had been a great level of pressure on their survival under very difficult circumstances [and that] [t]he State had no ability to provide jobs for everyone" (UN 2 Sept. 2015).
2. Treatment of Members of the Rally for the Guinean People (RPG) and RPG Arc-en-ciel Who Left the Country Prior to the Party Coming into Power
According to sources, RPG's Alpha Condé became the president of Guinea in 2010 and was re-elected for a second term in 2015 (Freedom House 2016; BBC 19 Oct. 2015). The same sources report that the RPG won 53 out of 114 seats in the 2013 parliamentary elections (ibid., Freedom House 2016). Sources also indicate that the RPG was transformed into the RPG Arc-en-ciel when it merged with several other political parties (International Crisis Group 17 July 2016; Africa Guinée 16 June 2016) in 2012 (ibid.).
Sources indicate that RPG Arc-en-ciel operates a body called Coordination des sections RPG/Arc-en-ciel de l'étranger (Coordination of RPG/Arc-en-ciel Sections Abroad (L'Express Guinée 5 Dec. 2014; Aujourd'hui en Guinée n.d.). In an appeal published by the Guinean news website Aujourd'hui en Guinée, the body calls for Guineans living abroad to participate in a [translation] "demonstration of support for the Head of State and for the institutions of the Republic," during the Guinean president Alpha Condé's visit to Brussels for the EU-Africa Summit in April 2014 (ibid.).
In Correspondence with the Research Directorate, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group who specializes in Guinean politics stated that
[translation]
when Alpha Condé became president, many RPG activists, including some who returned from abroad, have taken on positions of senior authority in the party, as well as in the government and in the administration. (International Crisis Group 17 July 2016)
The President of WANEP Guinea gave the opinion that RPG activists [translation] "are treated in a privileged manner" (WANEP 21 July 2016). The same source stated that "they do not risk at all any ill-treatment. Moreover, even in the case of returnees, they obtain nominations within the party or the administration. The government treats them preferentially over the others" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
The Senior Analyst indicated that, in recent months, factional tensions within the party linked to a conflict over the succession of Alpha Condé have caused "some episodes of limited violence" among party activists, but added that he did not have any information of mistreatment by authorities of members of any of the factions (International Crisis Group 17 July 2016).
In an article published by the Guinean news website Actuconakry, Ibrahima Sory Keïta, who, according to a news website Guineematin.com, is the Secretary General of the RPG Télimélé 1 (24 Nov. 2015), describes himself as a former member of an RPG's international section [3] (ActuConakry 27 27 Jan. 2016). In his article, Keïta calls for better integration of former activists of the RPG international sections who returned to Guinea within the central party in Guinea, stating that they have not yet been able [translation] "to put themselves at the active service of the party despite the fact that they very much want it" (ibid.). According to Keïta, some of the activists of international sections who returned to Guinea are in the meantime holding meetings among themselves [translation] "in order to contribute to the policies of the President of the Republic" (ibid.).
Information on instances of ill-treatment of members of RPG returning to Guinea from abroad could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Notes
[1] ERIN is a "joint return and reintegration project" implemented by eight European Union countries: the Belgian Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil) and Immigration Office (DVZ), the Dutch Repatriation and Departure Service (R&DS), the Finnish Immigration Service (MIGRI), the French Immigration and Integration Office (OFII), the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), and the UK Home Office – Immigration Enforcement (UKHO); and the selected local service providers in eleven countries of return (ERIN n.d., 2).
[2] According to the information available on its website, WANEP "is a leading Regional Peacebuilding organization founded in 1998 in response to civil wars that plagued West Africa in the 1990s. Over the years, WANEP has succeeded in establishing strong national networks in every Member State of ECOWAS with over 500 member organizations across West Africa" (WANEP n.d.).
[3] In his articles published by Guinean media sources in 2013, Keïta presents himself as the Secretary General of the RPG-Arc-en-ciel section in France (L'Express Guinée 13 July 2013; Actuconakry 13 Apr. 2013).
References
Actuconakry. 27 January 2016. Alpha Sidime. "Remous Rassemblement du Peuple de Guinée/Arc-en-ciel: le paradoxe des revendications." [Accessed 14 July 2016]
Actuconakry. 13 April 2013. "Stature d'Homme d'État, caricature d'une vision au service de la paix et des peuples: Exemplification par Barack Obama et Alpha Condé." [Accessed 20 July 2016]
Africa Guinée. 16 June 2016. Mohamed Camara. "Les implications juridiques de l'exclusion au RPG Arc-en-ciel le 11 juin 2016." [Accessed 20 July 2016]
Aujourd'hui en Guinée. N.d. "Sommet EU/ACP: la coordination RPG/Arc-En-Ciel de l'étranger appelle à une manifestation de soutien." [Accessed 20 July 2016]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 19 October 2015. "Guinea Profile - Leaders." [Accessed 20 July 2016]
European Reintegration Network (ERIN). Briefing Note: Republic of Guinea. [Accessed 4 July 2016]
Express Guinée. 5 December 2014. "Bruxelles: Une délégation de la coordination des sections RPG-arc-en-ciel de l'étranger au siège de l'UE." [Accessed 20 July 2016]
Express Guinée. 13 July 2013. "Usurpation de fonction: mise au point de la section RPG-Arc-En-Ciel de France à la RTG." [Accessed 20 July 2016]
Freedom House. 2016. "Guinea." Freedom in the World 2016. [Accessed 22 July 2016]
Guinea. 11 August 2015. Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 73 of the Convention Pursuant To the Simplified Reporting Procedure. Guinea. CMW/C/GIN/I. [Accessed 15 July 2016]
Guineematin.com. 24 November 2015. "Entretien avec Mr. Ibrahima Sory Keita, SG de RPG Télimélé 1: vidéo." [Accessed 20 July 2016]
International Crisis Group. 17 July 2016. Correspondence from a senior analyst to the Research Directorate.
International Organization for Migration (IOM). N.d. Country Office for Belgium and Luxemburg. "Past Projects." [Accessed 22 July 2016]
United Nations (UN). 8 October 2015. Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Guinea. CMW/C/GIN/CO/1. [Accessed 15 July 2016]
United Nations (UN). 2 September 2015. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Committee on the Protection of Migrant Workers Considers Situation in Guinea." [Accessed 15 July 2016]
West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP). 21 July 2016. Correspondence from the President of WANEP Guinea to the Research Directorate.
West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 13 July 2016]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Assistant professor of history, University of Puget Sound; Caritas Internationalis; Coordination des Sections RPG/Arc-en-ciel de l'étranger; International Organization for Migration; Researcher, Institut de recherche pour le développement.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; European Union – European Commission, European External Action Service, Eurostat; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; International Displacement Monitoring Centre; Jeune Afrique; Migration Policy Centre; RPG Arc-en-ciel; RPG Arc-en-ciel Sénégal; RPG Arc-en-ciel section des Pays-Bas; UN – High Commissioner for Refugees, Office on Drugs and Crime, Reliefweb, Refworld; US – Department of State.