The African Union Commission has dismissed a senior Burundian diplomat who criticised Kenya's treatment of Burundian traders amid a crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Ambassador Fred Gateretse Ngoga, who had served at the African Union Commission for 17 years, announced his resignation shortly after questioning why Burundian nationals were being targeted in Kenya.

Ngoga took to X to raise concerns about the treatment of Burundian traders, asking why his nationals were being singled out while other foreign nationals were also operating businesses in Kenya.

His remarks came as the Kenyan government intensified enforcement against foreign nationals operating small-scale businesses without the required immigration and business documents.

📌 What You Need to Know

However, the African Union Commission has disputed the circumstances surrounding his departure, stating that Ngoga did not resign but was summarily dismissed for gross misconduct.

The development came a day after Ngoga publicly criticised the situation involving Burundian nationals in Kenya, although he later welcomed the Kenyan government's decision to give foreign traders a 90-day grace period to regularise their status.

Ngoga has since deleted his resignation post and has not publicly clarified whether he intended to leave the AU Commission voluntarily or whether his departure followed disciplinary action.

Kenya's 90-day grace period requires foreign traders to regularise their immigration status, work permits, business registrations and relevant business licences before enforcement of the requirements resumes.

The government's crackdown had triggered concern among Burundian nationals, with hundreds seeking assistance at the Burundi Embassy in Nairobi as they attempted to obtain identification and travel documents.

A spot check by Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday evening established that Burundian nationals and their families had sought refuge at the embassy, which had hosted many of them over the preceding three days.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke