TANZANIA: SEABORNE HUMAN SMUGGLING FROM SOMALIA

1. (SBU) During an October 24 meeting with Ambassador Green,
Government of Tanzania (GOT) Minister of Home Affairs, Joseph
Mungai, stated his concern for what appears to be a human smuggling
ring involving Somali, Ethiopians and Eritrean citizens entering
Tanzania by sea on ships ostensibly carrying only food. Minister
Mungai asked for USG assistance in helping to secure the Tanzania
border. END SUMMARY.



2. (SBU) On October 22 and 23, PolOff and RefCoord met with the GOT
Ministry of Home Affairs Refugees Officer and Acting Director,
Johnson Brahim, and with officers of the International Office for
Migration (IOM9 efF3'rDWQwh.QJQQEFaQl2-Qday's global security
environment, he was troubled by this situation and asked what USG
assistance might be available to assist in securing Tanzanian
borders.



3. (SBU) Reportedly, organized groups smuggle immigrants into
Tanzania with the intention of seeking transportation further south
to Malawi and South Africa. Tanzanian immigration officers and
police have intercepted and detained as illegal migrants 216
Somalis, 555 Ethiopians (who were from the Ogaden region of Ethiopia
and possible ethnic Somalis), 2 Eritreans, many Kenyans and 1
Congolese citizen. Tanzania shares land borders with eight
countries and officials have expressed concern that due to their
porous borders and the chaotic situation in Somalia, that subversive
and/or criminal elements might try to enter Tanzania. The GOT is
also concerned with finding a durable humanitarian solution for the
migrants who may be victims of human trafficking.



4. (SBU) According GOT officials, boats delivering food from Pemba
to Somalia and other coastal towns discharge their cargoes and
return to Pemba loaded with Somalis and Ethiopians. The Ministry of
Home Affairs, which has responsibility for immigration, deports
Ethiopian and Kenyan nationals. However, the government is
uncertain as to how to deal with Somali nationals due to the lack of
security in that country.



5. (U) Monika Peruffo, Project Officer-Counter Trafficking for the
International Office for Migration (IOM) in Tanzania, confirmed
reports of the arrival of illegals from Ethiopia and Somalia and
stated that she had arranged to conduct interviews with several of
the migrants in the near future. IOM manages several
anti-trafficking programs in Tanzania, and through these programs
have close contact with immigration officers and police. They have
also assisted Tanzanian border to be equipped with databases and
equipment to help determine the authenticity of travel documents.
Immigration officers have been trained by IOM in fraud detection and
basic interview techniques. However, Tanzanian authorities are not
equipped to ascertain if the new arrivals are trafficking victims,
smuggled migrants or infiltrating criminals.

Comment


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6. (SBU) The GOT's humanitarian and security concerns appear well
founded. IOM and other offices report an increase in illegal aliens
transiting the Horn for South Africa. Presently, the problem
appears relatively small, but as the migrants are more successful
the pace of passage is likely to increase. The GOT needs the means
to control the flow of migrants if they are to prevent the
exploitation of ethnic Somalis, and the potential infiltration of
criminal elements.
GREEN