Fodé Mabinty Camara set foot in La Rochelle on November 4, 2018, after a year-long journey, when he left Kamsar, Republic of Guinea-Conakry for his safety. Orphaned, he has resigned himself to leaving his little brother Alpha, with whom he is still in contact. At 25, he is still waiting for a residence permit, after a request made the first days of his arrival, by a nun he met by chance.
He met Anna Tahet, in 2019, through the nun, and her husband, Alain, subsequently. Fodé is welcomed by the whole family, sensitive to his situation. Faced with their difficulties in obtaining a residence permit, the couple founded the association to support Fodé Mabinty Camara. “We sent registered letters to the prefecture and the immigration office, radio silence. Damn, an answer at least,” exclaims Anna Tahet. “Same silence from a letter, accompanied by a letter of recommendation from Olivier Falorni, the MP, and promises of hiring from employers struggling to recruit in the hotel and construction sector. » Alain Tahet says: “Last March, there was a little hope for him to obtain a residence permit, but with the European elections, the dissolution of the Assembly, the legislative elections and the 2024 Olympics, all the procedures were frozen. »
“He is a boy who is well integrated, who works and who has accommodation, he poses no problem. I ask myself the question, why is it blocking? »
Same story from Michel Tillaud, La Rochelle elected delegate for Human Rights and solidarity with migrants until July 2023, humanitarian for 36 years: “I admit that it is a complicated situation. He is a boy who is well integrated, who works and who has accommodation, he poses no problem. I ask myself the question, why is it blocking? I contacted Olivier Falorni, who sent two letters to the prefect. On July 14, I discussed it with the latter who told me that as long as there was no government, especially a minister of the interior, he could do nothing. »
“I do everything to fit in”
Fodé began training in the hotel/catering industry at the beginning of October at RestoKoop, a cooperative, solidarity and integration restaurant, for six months. He receives 1,200 euros per month, for 400 euros of accommodation, and reimbursement for his electric bike (loan from Alain and Anna). “I refuse a social life, I don’t go to parties or discotheques, because I’m afraid of controls,” he says. His only document recently is a consular card, issued by the Guinean embassy, which proves his identity, renewable every two years.
“I agree that they refuse to issue me a residence permit, but I am not a delinquent, not even a ticket, and I do everything to integrate,” explains the young man, without malice in the voice. “For six years, we have been working to do everything legally. For 8,000 euros, he can have a residence permit in Paris. But that’s not our way of doing things,” announces Anna Tahet, who was in the army for 15 years, and Alain, 30 years in the gendarmerie. “For me, Alain and Anna are parents,” explains Fodé. This is confirmed by their behavior towards him, as Anna declares: “We lecture him, we argue with him when necessary, and we motivate him. »
Next answers
On the side of the prefecture, the deputy head of the departmental interministerial communication service, Aurore Turmel, explains: “Fodé Mabinty Camara was rejected from asylum by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons on November 15, 2019, then by the National Court of Asylum on October 2, 2020. The prefecture of Charente-Maritime has, in this executive, issued against him an order requiring him to leave French territory (OQTF) on November 17, 2020. The administrative court of Poitiers, then the Administrative Court of Appeal of Bordeaux dismissed his requests on January 4 and the October 21, 2021. A request for exceptional admission to the stay was then submitted on March 29, 2022. In order to examine his request with regard to the regulations in force, additional documents were provided to him. been requested and the examination of the file is nearing completion. Mr. Camara will very soon be informed of the outcome of his request. »
Fodé's journey is recounted in a book written by Alain Tahet: “Fodé Mabinty Camara, Vivre ou survive” at Éditions Edi'lybris: 9 rue des Mésanges – 79 400 Saint-Maixent-l'École or in any bookstore (reference).
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