The United Kingdom continues to be plagued with anti-immigration outbursts as far-right protests and vandalism continue to create fear among locals. 

The message is clear from the far-right protestors: asylum-seekers must vacate the country.

International relations minister Peya Mushelenga told New Era that his office is closely monitoring with concern the unrest and violence that erupted in different parts of that country over the past few days.  

“As in any other State, we remain concerned at violent incidences, especially when it is xenophobic in nature and racially- motivated, targeting segments of the population who are in the most vulnerable situations such as asylum seekers and migrants,” he said.

Mushelenga, Namibia’s foremost diplomat continued that no major incidents concerning Namibians have been reported. 

The Namibian mission to that country is continuously monitoring and updating the ministry. 

“Namibians in the UK have been advised through our Mission to stay vigilant and exercise due caution, as well as avoid areas where protests are happening to ensure their safety,” stated Mushelenga.

He added: “We are also encouraging all Namibians in the UK to register with the High Commission to receive timely information and support in case of emergency. It is very important that Namibian nationals inform the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation about their travels, and/or register themselves with our Mission abroad for such eventualities.”

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Namibia Charles Moore advised Namibian nationals to contact the Namibian High Commission in London for the latest advice on how to navigate around the riots.

“The scenes that have been witnessed in the UK over recent days in a small number of locations are abhorrent. The prime minister has been very clear that anyone involved in this disorder will face the full force of the law. An extra 70 prosecutors were on hand over the weekend to quickly charge those criminals who set out to cause violent disorder and wreak havoc in communities,” he said in an engagement with New Era.

Namibians 

The riots hit close to home when two Namibian asylum seekers who were housed at a hotel that was partially burnt in Rotherham, England on Monday, were advised by British authorities to seek alternative accommodation. 

This is according to a source close to the asylum-seekers. 

“The mob in Rotherham attacked the hotel and unfortunately there were two Namibians. Immigration told them to pack their belongings and seek refuge elsewhere. We haven’t been informed where they were relocated to, but what I know is they were removed from the hotel as the damage caused was severe,” said the source.

The tension, this publication understands, is a result of a British-born Rwandese 17-year-old who allegedly stabbed three Brits, and wounding others at a festival for unknown reasons.

“School-going children are on holiday here, so they had a festival, and this is where the stabbing took place. We don’t know what transpired, but word has it that the alleged stabber was diagnosed with autism.”

He said: “The observation is the Muslims brought their ways and have been enforcing it into the country. This made Brits angry. It started as a cold war between various groups. This led to the retaliation of Brits to reject the force by Muslims in their country. This led to a UK-born Rwandese teen stabbing three girls, which took the war to another level.”

Nervous

The nervous asylum-seeker added that although he hasn’t been affected, his skin colour puts him in trouble.

“The rioters don’t care where one comes from, the fact that a person is black, because of the boy from Rwanda, puts all of us in danger,” said an asylum-seeker. 

British prime minister Keir Starmer condemned the riots as “far right and mindless thuggery” and on Monday vowed to “ramp up” the law to deal with the violence.

“We will have an army of specialist officers, public duty officers, to deal with this. We will ramp up criminal justice, there have already been hundreds of arrests, and some have appeared in court. I have asked for the naming and identification of those involved in the process- who will feel the full force of the law,” he stated in a televised interview.

Meanwhile, Nigeria, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia governments have issued warnings and cautions to their citizens planning on travelling to the UK to be vigilant and take measures following anti-asylum riots. -psiririka@nepc.com.na