Introduction: Darfuri refugees and asylum seekers in Britain

There is increasing political pressure on the British Government to expel illegal migrants, a term which often expands in the public mind to include genuine asylum seekers – a situation which is not helped by negative targeting by the popular media of all immigrants to the UK..  Consequently many asylum seekers from the war-torn region of Darfur in Sudan now face the threat of deportation and subsequent arrest, torture and even murder by the security services of the Sudanese regime.

Darfuri people arrive in Britain claiming asylum because they are escaping an ongoing and systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing against the non-Arab groups in Darfur. Since 2003, ninety per cent of non-Arab villages have been attacked and destroyed by the Sudanese armed forces and their proxies, the Janjaweed militia. An estimated 400,000 Darfuris have been killed and almost three million are internally displaced as a result of a top-level government orchestrated campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Any Darfuri asylum seeker who held a leadership role within his home community, or was part of the professional and educated classes (teachers, doctors etc), is particularly at risk of being targeted if forced to return to Sudan. Equally, Darfuris in Britain who have organised their fellow countrymen in exile, or are vocal in criticising the Khartoum regime, are also at risk of being apprehended, tortured and killed by the Sudanese security services if they are forcibly returned.

We estimate there are between 2,000 and 4,000 Darfuris seeking asylum in the UK. Many are living marginal lives, uncertain of their future, constantly fearful that they will be sent back to their deaths in Sudan.

Those who have trouble speaking English are particularly bewildered by the complications of the UK immigration and asylum system.

Since 2007 the Article 1 team has been working with Darfuri asylum seekers, refugees, human rights NGOs and lawyers.  We have developed a strong relationship with these groups and can offer quality practical and emotional support, information, advice, and access to lawyers in order to protect their rights.  We bring together the Darfuri diaspora to share problems and solutions, and to make their voice heard as a group.

We have also formed a working relationship with the UK Home Office and Border Agency. Since focusing on advocating for policy change, we have accomplished a great deal both in terms of getting heard by the Home Office and achieving tangible results for Darfuris.