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Burundian ’food refugees’ barred from Tanzania
2006-03-01 07:21:06
By Guardian Reporter
The government has said it will not allow Burundians into the country as refugees. Minister for Home Affairs, Capt John Chiligati, said on Monday that Burundians are entering the country in droves under the guise of seeking political asylum to escape the debilitating famine situation at home.
He said Tanzanian would not accommodate them as refugees.
The minister said that a total of 8,160 Burundians had entered the country under the pretext of seeking political asylum, citing political turmoil at home.
’’This is not true because almost 99 per cent of the country is now secure. We have sent back 155 Burundians who could not provide sufficient reasons to be allowed into the country,” the minister said.
He said the Tanzania government had arrived at the conclusion that the Burundians were not fleeing from the insecurity at home, but were looking for succour.
He said Burundi was peaceful and that there was no valid reason for Burundians to seek refuge in Tanzania.
’’’Security in Burundi has improved following recent democratic elections and more than 90 per cent of the country is enjoying peace.
Why do they want to come to Tanzania? This time we are not ready to accommodate them,’’ he said.
The minister said the Burundians were still in refugee camps pending consultations with the Burundi government.
Chief Information Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs Isaack Nantanga said a total of 1,039 Burundians were in Bukililo while another 4,851 are camping at Nyakimonomono refugee centre.
Nantanga said that other 1,946 Burundians were in the Mukuzi transit centre.
’’We know that they are fleeing from hunger. Burundi is among the countries in the region experiencing severe famine. We are also facing a serious food shortage,’’ he said.
He said that, although the hunger situation in Tanzania is not so critical, it would be a burden for Tanzania to receive and give the Burundians a refuge, adding that if they allowed them to stay in Tanzania, the situation would worsen.
The Burundian asylum seekers are from Muyinga, Kirundo, Cankuzo and the eastern Province of Ruyigi.
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