Who produces instruments of violence and economic injustice will harvest refugees-video interview with Rex Osa

Explaining the motto of his last campaign, Rex Osa stresses the extent of damages caused by weapons all around the world and especially in Africa over recent years. The Nigerian refugee activist points out the need to understand migration to Europe as one of many dramatic consequences of the dealings of the arms industry.nMoreover, he sheds light on the European policy by denouncing the European politics of profit, exploitation power and free trade agreement strategies in Africa, giving the example of European fisheries policies in Senegal. nRex Osa appeals to the German society to fight for a world without weapons, to take responsibility for German arms export economy and ”a common solidarity towards refugees”.

Rex Osa works for the Bewegungsstiftung. He came to Germany in 2005 because he was persecuted in Nigeria for political reasons. As an asylum seeker, he experienced mistrust and denial instead of protection. But he did not accept the role of a marginalized refugee; instead, he joined the self-organized refugee forum “The Voice” and engaged in the elucidation of the death of Oury Jalloh, who burned in police custody in 2005. In 2010, he initiated the “Break Isolation” Campaign together with “The Voice” which not only contributed to the empowerment of refugees but also revealed the importance of refugee self-organization. He gives workshops on deportation and represented the movement of refugees in Germany at several international e events, for example the International Summit of Migrants and Refugees in New York 2013, the World Social Forum in South Africa 2014 and many other events in Europe and worldwide. nWith the friendly support of the Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, the Netzwerk Selbsthilfe and Engagement Global.

This interview was recorded as part of the project "Why we are here!? African perspectives on Flight and Migration".