Belgium - Cameroonian students demonstrated on Friday in Brussels for the fourth consecutive day to demand the release of a colleague who has been detained since Monday at Zaventem airport.
The fifth year civil engineering student of Université Libre in Brussels was returning to Belgium from Cameroon after a one-month holiday when police at Zaventem airport refused him entry claiming his face did not match the picture on his passport.
One demonstrator told PANA that the 26-year-old student arrived in Belgium at the age of 18 to further his studies.
“After eight years, his physical appearance is bound to change. He has put on weight and wears glasses,” she said.
The administrative office of Schaarbeek district where the student lives confirmed that he is indeed the one whose stay in Belgium they extend every year for his studies.
Further, Université Libre in Brussels told the police that he is indeed the Cameroonian student registered at the Department of Civil Engineering.
A Brussels court will on Tuesday rule on the fate of the Cameroonian student.
The police are threatening to send him back to Libya where he transited on his way to Belgium.
The Cameroonian students have decided to carry on with their demonstrations until their colleague is released.
(c) Pana
Picture courtesy of camer.be
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The African tragedy.
Posted by: facter | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 12:04 PM
The picture on his latest renewed visa should show his recent face, if there is any changes however. There is probably some other issues involved.
Posted by: Sesesko Intl | Sunday, 12 April 2009 at 03:05 PM
As much as I would like to support my fellow Cameroonian, I need to stay true to my conscience.
I smell a rat. It is crystal clear to me that those are two different pictures of completely two different people. What makes this more eerie is that the picture on the passport looks EXACTLY like someone I know in Buea and his name is definitely not Rudy (as written on the passport).
I don't want to jump into conclusions but I smell a rat
*waiting for latest developments*
Posted by: UnitedstatesofAfrica | Tuesday, 14 April 2009 at 12:54 PM
I was a victim of a similar incident at that same airport on the 24th Jan 2009 when i was leaving Belgium to US and i must say the immigration officials must be crazy.I also underwent a similar transformation like Rudy and had all my legal documents in Belgium yet i was delayed to the extend that i had to miss my flight. Worse still they decline any charges for the additional expenses i incurred to reschedule my flight.
I think if the Belgian airport authorities are unable to reconcile the two images they should conduct a finger print to determine the DNA, which was what i requested. Its such an embarrassing situation i must confess.
Posted by: Nzefeh Martin | Tuesday, 14 April 2009 at 04:37 PM
If the pictures did not look thesame then what about the finger prints. Please Let us use our technology and stop beeing races Like.
Posted by: Ade | Thursday, 16 April 2009 at 04:32 AM
I suggest they should check the finger print of Rudy.Its been long and people do change as years goes by.
There is a difference between my cameroon passport picture five years ago and the want i have now.Which means if i travel to belgium i will be detain.I have gain alot of weight compare to last five years.
Finger print is the best option.They should stop wasting people's time.We are in the 21 century.
nashon
Posted by: lambert awah | Thursday, 16 April 2009 at 05:23 AM
At first glance you would not believe it is the same guy, but then you look closely and realise it is. I remember having this same problem a good few years back in the USA. The guy was a teenager when he went to Belgium, 8 years down the line he is bound to have changed. The Belgian authorities will soon see sense.
Posted by: alpha2omega | Thursday, 16 April 2009 at 02:51 PM
An attempt was made to expel Rudy early today but was foiled after the pilot refused to transport the "cargo" to Cameroon. Watch report from Belgian TV here: http://www.rtlinfo.be/rtl/news/article/234896/--l’expulsion+de+rudy+échoue+%3a+le+commandant+de+bord+aurait+refusé+de+décoller
Posted by: njala | Thursday, 16 April 2009 at 03:35 PM
Something is wrong somewhere. I suppose on the part of Rudy.
If Rudy has lived in Belgium for a long time, even with finger print, he should have enough information to back his case. He has a residence and can describe the street and take the immigration officers directly to his house and use his keys to open his door. He should also quote professors who interact with him at the university.
If his case has reached this level, then there is something fishy.
Posted by: Fon Teku | Friday, 17 April 2009 at 11:31 AM
Just looked at the pictures again. Concentrate on the eyes and you will realise that this is the same person.
Posted by: Danny Boy | Monday, 20 April 2009 at 02:26 PM
SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND THIS HIGH TASTE FOR FRAUD. SOME OF OURS GO AS FAR AS INDULGING IN NAME CHANGES, CREDIT CARD THEFT AND LIKES. CHECK OUT THE CASE WITH THIS RUNAWAY, A CERTAIN MS N.C ALIAS SEYNABOU DIOP ALIAS MARIAM NDIAYE, FORMER DRUG SELLING CULPRIT WHO WAS INCARCERATED IN FRANCE.IN BELGIUM, SHE HOLDS THE SAD REPUTATION OF FRAUDING ST JOHN'S COLLEGE DIPLOMAS, AS WELL AS BUILDING OF FAKE PASSPORTS WITH SCHENGEN VISAS.
AFTER CLOSED TO TWO DECADES IN EUROPE, THIS IS THE ART SHE LEARNED.
WHAT A CURSE TO CHEAP APPROACHES TO EARN A LIVING...?
Posted by: YINGFUH BLAISE | Wednesday, 22 April 2009 at 11:50 AM
Please I am a cameroonian student who wishes to come and study in brussel at Vrije university.I do not have enought funds for accomdation can any one help me for accomodation even if for a few weeks.
any gud samaritine can get to me via ,jpauluni1@yahoo.fr.
Thanks
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