TANZANIA: SEABORNE HUMAN SMUGGLING FROM SOMALIA

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 001464 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS AF/E FOR MBEYZEROV, PRM FOR WHENNING KAMPALA FOR GFREDERICK NAIROBI FOR WLEHMBERG, ALSO FOR JYATES SOMALIA UNIT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL PHUM EAID TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA: SEABORNE HUMAN SMUGGLING FROM SOMALIA SUSPECTED. SUMMARY -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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