Botswana has granted asylum to the 10 Eritrean football players whorefused to board their plane back home after competing in a World Cup qualifying match two weeks ago, civic organisation, Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR) announced.
The Eritrean players faced the possibility of deportation only to be saved by a Botswana High Court ruling, which prevented the expulsion and offered a reprieve to the asylum seekers.
According to Mmegi, lawyer, Dick Bayford said the Ministry of Justice, Defence and Security indicated that the players had been granted asylum.
“Our common position with the Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights is that we hail the position government has taken.
“Government started on the wrong footing on this matter, but what’s important is that reason has prevailed,” Bayford said.
Botswana initially refused to grant political asylum to the Eritreans and EMDHR filed a court interdict to prevent their deportation.
“The players will now be processed and moved to the Dukwi Refugee Camp,” Bayford.
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