Deserted Ethiopian Soldiers Accepted as Refugees in Kenya

Ethiopian soldiers who deserted to Kenya last week will be treated as refugees, Kenya's Foreign Minister Bonaya Godana has said.

The Daily Nation newspaper Monday quoted Godana as saying that the Kenyan government, through the foreign ministry, was liaisoning with the Ethiopian government to establish the root cause of the soldiers' desertion.

Godana noted that this was not the first time Kenya has played host to deserted soldiers from Ethiopia, saying security has been beefed up on the border areas.

About 11 Ethiopian soldiers have reportedly deserted to Kenya, and they have surrendered their weapons and uniforms to the Kenyan authorities.

Meanwhile, Kenya Army Commander Lazarus Sumbeiywo said the Ethiopian military men had been handed over to his country's Immigration Department.

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees is also involving in the case, the report said.






People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/