Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Tanzania investigates 14 Somali businessmen for human trafficking

The Tanzanian government is investigating 14 Somali businessmen, who are naturalised Tanzanian citizens, for allegedly facilitating the trafficking of hundreds of Somalis using forged documents, The East African reported Saturday (April 27th).

Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Pereira Ali Silima said intelligence agencies are also investigating politicians, businessmen and senior government officials who may be tied to the scheme of sending Somalis to South African countries and Europe in exchange for millions of dollars.

Somalis trafficked through Tanzania are taking advantage of the government's practice of granting citizenship to genuine asylum seekers and refugees, he said.

Currently, Tanzania provides asylum to about 526,800 refugees, a majority of whom are from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia. Since 2005, Tanzania has granted citizenship to 3,000 Somali refugees.

Principal Commissioner of Immigration Services Magnus Ulungi said the Tanzanian government has revoked the citizenship of 102 Somalis who had obtained the status illegally.

Source: SABAHI

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