Saxion-student Merckys Wakunda Fondu is home. Last Wednesday a fire broke out in the detention center where Fondu, a citizen of the democratic republic of Congo, had been detained since November. On Thursday night Merckys got the unexpected news that he was free to go home.
During a study trip to Berlin in November of 09, the Saxion student was taken into custody because he could not present the appropriate travel papers.
In an effort to finish his studies at Saxion, and to stay with his wife and son, Wakonda Fondu has been battling it out with the Dutch authorities for quite some time now. Currently the Congolese is in the last phase of his study Urban and Regional Planning. His request for a visa was denied and with the help of Saxion, an appeal was sent to the Secretary of Justice. Recently Fondu filed another visa application, but was informed by the Immigration Services that he would remain in custody while his case was under review. Fondu’s lawyer, Saxion, the town of Enschede and the Immanuel church have been fighting tirelessly to free Fondu and reunite him with his family.
The news that Fondu had been released from detention came as a big surprise to him and his family. According to Fondu, “All at once I got the news that I was allowed to go home. I have no idea why and I plan to look into it.” A few hours prior to Fondu receiving the news, his wife was told by the authorities that Fondu did not get hurt in the fire that broke out in the detention center.
Fondu’s wife immediately left for Zeist on Thursday evening to pick up her husband. Fondu, “for now I am very grateful to be home. I still need to get permission to stay and I hope that will follow.”