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Kenyan court blocks closure of world’s largest refugee camp

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Kenya’s high court has overturned the government’s decision to close Dadaab Camp and repatriate Somali refugees.

In his ruling, Justice John Mativo said the decision to shut down the camp was unconstitutional.

He’s also described the government’s order as excessive, arbitrary and disproportionate.

The resolution to disband the Department of Refugee Affairs has also been quashed.

The ruling comes after a petition by two Kenyan human rights organisations. Dadaab was initially due to be closed in November 2016, but the government announced a six-month delay on what it described as humanitarian grounds. Rights groups have welcomed the ruling.

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