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TANZANIA: REFUGEES
CONFIDENTIAL
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1.
Nature of Refugees
Tanzania hosts about 207,000 refugees from various countries.
Most arrived in mass influxes over short periods of time having
been displaced as a result of internal upheaval. They choose not
to return for fear of persecution. None have been displaced as
a result of natural disaster. None are economic refugees.
Generally speaking UNHCR and the GOT agree on their classification
ie that they have full refugee status. There are however one or
two exceptions. The situation is complex because the refugees
originate from several countries and the country of origin is of
course a factor in the Tanzanians' attitude towards the refugees.
The nationalities are as follows:
(a) Burundi
The slow
The 170,000 Burundis in Tanzania have been granted full refugee
status. They arrived en masse around 1972 displaced by internal
upheaval. Most live in huge settlements: Katumba (83,000),
Mishamo (35,000) and Ulyankulu (28,000). Another 23,000 settled
spontaneously in Kigoma region in Tanzanian villages.
trickle of new arrivals go to a smaller camp at Kigwa. Recently two Burundis have asked to be repatriated and the Burundi Embassy has stated categorically to UNHCR that they have no objection
to their return. It is not, however, expected that many will choose
to return. Burundi too would clearly have severe difficulties in reabsorbing such a large number. There is no pressure on the refugees by the GOT to return.
(b) Rwandese
In the early 1960s around 36,000 Rwandese arrived in Tanzania
en masse, displaced by tribal strife. Now only about 20,000
still have refugee status as the rest are naturalised Tanzanians
(a political decision to grant citizenship to Rwandese refugees
having been taken in 1980). They are scattered throughout Western Tanzania, mainly in Kagera and Rukwa regions.
CONFIDENTIAL
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