‘Human beings should not be deported’: the horn of Africa’s hegemon contests the EU’s norm to readmit

Returning rejected asylum seekers to their origin states is high on the policy agenda of the EU and European governments. Using norms and role theory, this article examines how Ethiopian public officers normatively understand return and readmission as well as their country’s role expectations. We find that while Assisted Voluntary Return is met with relative acceptance, forced return is condemned and viewed as illegitimate. Illustrating the inter-role conflict between Ethiopia and EU countries, four themes are used to frame and delegitimize return and readmission. First, state agents see Ethiopia as a benefactor protecting citizens abroad by non-collaboration on their readmission as well as by actively bringing suffering citizens back ‘home’. Second, Ethiopia’s culture and history of hospitality towards people on the move is contrasted to Europe’s deportations. Third, the legality and morality of readmission is questioned, largely irrespective of formal policy and often invoking human rights as a meta-norm to frame return and readmission as immoral and inappropriate. Finally, European governments’ policy and practice of forced return is generally framed as inappropriate and inhumane. These delegitimizing themes stem from role conceptions of Ethiopia as a regional hegemon and are fed by role enactments on the part of the Ethiopian state.