The African Union Commission (AUC) has dismissed a senior Burundian diplomat who publicly criticised Kenya over the treatment of Burundian traders during a crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals.
Ambassador Fred Gateretse Ngoga, who had worked at the African Union Commission for 17 years, initially announced his resignation shortly after raising concerns about the alleged targeting of Burundian nationals in Kenya.
Ngoga took to X to question why Burundian traders appeared to be singled out despite other foreign nationals also running businesses in the country.
His remarks came as the Kenyan government stepped up enforcement against foreign nationals operating small-scale businesses without the necessary immigration and business documentation.
However, the African Union Commission has since challenged Ngoga's account of his departure, maintaining that he did not voluntarily resign but was instead summarily dismissed over alleged gross misconduct.
The developments unfolded a day after the diplomat publicly criticised the treatment of Burundian nationals in Kenya. He later welcomed the government's decision to grant foreign traders a 90-day window to regularise their documentation.
Ngoga has since deleted the post in which he announced his resignation and has not publicly clarified whether he had intended to leave the AU Commission voluntarily or whether his exit followed disciplinary action.
Under Kenya's newly announced 90-day grace period, foreign traders are expected to regularise their immigration status, work permits, business registrations and other relevant licences before enforcement resumes.
The government's crackdown had caused anxiety among Burundian nationals, with hundreds flocking to the Burundi Embassy in Nairobi in search of identification and travel documents.
A spot check by Vantage Ke on Thursday evening established that Burundian nationals and their families had sought refuge at the embassy, which had accommodated many of them over the previous three days.
During that period, St John Ambulance and the Kenya Red Cross were providing food and other supplies to Burundian nationals and their families staying at the embassy while seeking assistance.
The Kenyan government has since apologised to Burundian nationals who faced hardship during the enforcement operation, insisting that there is no blanket ban on foreign traders.
The government further maintained that undocumented East African nationals have an opportunity to regularise their stay and documentation through their respective embassies.
