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Thousands of Somalis Arrested in Kenya

Somalia drought and famine

French Translation of the Week

About four thousand people, mostly Somali and Kenyan ethnic Somali were arrested by the police in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, since Friday, April 4, some staying in a sports complex on Tuesday, announced the Kenyan authorities.

Environ quatre mille personnes, principalement somaliennes ou kényanes d'ethniesomalie, ont été arrêtées dans la capitale kényane, Nairobi, depuis vendredi 4 avril par la police, et une partie restait retenue mardi dans un complexe sportif, ont annoncé les autorités kényanes. 

This article has been translated from French. Click here to read the original version on Le Monde.

"In recent months, insecurity has increased. It was time to give a good sweep to restore order," said the Kenyan Minister of the Interior, Joseph Ole Lenku, referring to recent attacks and attempts targeting Kenya, which they attributed to Somali Islamists linked to al-Shaba'ab.

The majority of these people were arrested on Friday during an extensive operation in the Eastleigh neighborhood, nicknamed "Little Mogadishu" due to its large Somali population. "Eastleigh functions as an entity apart from Kenya," said Mr. Ole Lenku, assuring that "nearly four thousand people" had been arrested so far.

1,600 People Released Monday

"The Kenyan authorities have told us that they would verify the identities of the detainees and release those who are in Kenya legally and who are not involved in criminal activities," said the Somali ambassador to Kenya, adding that about sixteen hundred people had been released Monday.

According to a spokesman for the police, Masoud Mwinyi, 467 people remained in custody on Tuesday and 69 others were charged with various offenses, impossible figures to verify.

The police strictly prohibit access to the sports complex and police stations to media and non-governmental organizations defending human rights. The Office of the United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed "concern about the wave of arrests" and "asked to have access to (...) detained refugees and asylum seekers."

Article translated by Allie Stauss, Staff Intern for the Africa Program at the Wilson Center.

Photo courtesy of Africa Renewal via Flickr Commons.

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