Namibian refugees in Botswana showing interest to return home: official

GABORONE, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Botswana government official on Friday said Namibian refugees living at Dukwi Refugee Camp, some 550km west of the capital Gaborone were willing to return to Namibia.

When addressing journalists after a closed door meeting with the refugees at the camp, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defense, Justice and Security, Segakweng Tsiane, said consultations between the governments of Botswana and Namibia are at an advanced stage to facilitate the repatriation.

At least 927 Namibian refugees are living at the camp and have been in Botswana for almost two decades.

Namibians fled into Botswana in 1999 following a civil war which rocked the northeastern part of Namibia, commonly known as the Caprivi Strip between the Caprivi Liberation Army and the Namibian government.

Shortly after the unsuccessful secession attempt, about 3,000 people sought refuge in Botswana for fear of reprisals from the Namibian government.

They were granted refugee status and accommodated at the Dukwi camp.

As of December 2015, there are still several hundred Namibians living in the camp, although about 2, 100 have returned to Namibia. Enditem