The Commissioner of Refugees: We Have Begun Preparations for the Voluntary Return of Sudanese Refugees

Dr. Musa Ali Atroun, the Commissioner of Refugees, announced that his administration has launched a voluntary return program—the first of its kind since the war began last year. He explained that the commission has been preparing for a large-scale voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees from neighboring countries, with plans ready to be implemented once the war ends.

At a border reception center in the Galabat area, around 3,000 citizens have already returned from a neighboring country. Atroun praised the Basenda Locality in Gedaref State for its vital role in sheltering and receiving returnees from Ethiopian refugee camps due to the security situation. According to the commissioner, more than two million Sudanese refugees are currently in neighboring countries. While some are seeking asylum, others are in temporary residence, waiting for the war to end so they can return home. He noted that countries such as Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Eritrea have taken in Sudanese refugees, with some—like South Sudan and Ethiopia—establishing refugee camps. In contrast, other nations, such as Egypt and Uganda, have not set up camps.

The Commissioner of Refugees: We Have Begun Preparations for the Voluntary Return of Sudanese Refugees

Atroun shared that his office has initiated a program to visit the countries hosting Sudanese refugees to ensure proper registration and monitor their conditions. These visits are part of the preparations for facilitating their voluntary return. His first visit was to Ethiopia a few weeks ago, where he observed the situation of Sudanese refugees, including those who had already voluntarily returned. He mentioned ongoing communications with Uganda, Chad, and Egypt to evaluate the conditions of the refugees and ensure accurate registration, paving the way for further visits and the full implementation of the voluntary return program.

He also expressed his appreciation for Ethiopia's role in facilitating refugee programs and noted that Chad has welcomed an enormous number of refugees, almost equivalent to the population of an entire state. "A whole community from West Darfur has fled to eastern Chad due to the war," Atroun remarked, emphasizing his administration's readiness to provide the necessary support to all Sudanese refugees to help them return to their homeland voluntarily.