MALAWI: REFUGEE FLOW SLOWED BY TIGHTER BORDERS

S E C R E T LILONGWE 000606

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DRL
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR PRM, AF/RSA, INL, G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019
TAGS: ASEC KTIP PREL PREF PTER MI
SUBJECT: MALAWI: REFUGEE FLOW SLOWED BY TIGHTER BORDERS

REF: LILONGWE 00426

Classified By: Peter W. Bodde, Chief of Mission, Reason(s) 1.4(b),(c),
and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: RSO and POLOFF visited Malawi's Dzaleka
Refugee Camp on October 27 and learned that the GOM has
tightened border controls along Malawi's frontier with
Tanzania. UNHCR and NGO staff believe commercial smuggling
of Ethiopian and Somali refugees through Malawi has been
reduced due to the effort. Malawi authorities successfully
deported a group of Somalis they had detained since July.
End summary.

Better Border Controls Working
--------------


2. (C) RSO and POLOFF visited Malawi's Dzaleka Refugee Camp
in association with a project funding refugee vocational
skills training. UNHCR and Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS)
staff said the new GOM Minister of Home Affairs and Internal
Security Aaron Sangala had instituted controls along the
Tanzanian frontier and that these new controls were proving
to be effective. They reported that the flow of refugees
into Dzaleka was drastically reduced and that UNHCR had
encouraged the Ministry to take steps to ensure that
legitimate asylum seekers were not being kept out. Efforts
by Mozambique to seal their borders in preparation for
recently held elections was also a factor. Mozambique is a
preferred next stop on the trek to South Africa, and news
that authorities were refusing entry to refugees crossing
from Malawi caused groups to consider alternate routes.

Factions Among Those Already Here Cause Problems
-------------- ---


3. (U) Dzaleka Camp administrators told emboffs that the
majority of the camp's population consists of semi-permanent
residents from the Great Lakes Region countries of Rwanda,
Burundi, and Congo. The remainder are transient Somalis and
Ethiopians who use the camp as a rest stop on their journey
to South Africa and beyond. The Somalis and Ethiopians do
not integrate well with each other or the larger resident
refugee community. Tensions increase when the transients
resort to petty crime in and around the camp in an effort to
raise funds for their onward journey. A recent flare-up
among the different groups prompted the UNHCR to request
additional support from the Malawi National Police.

Somali Refugee Group Deported
--------------


4. (S) On a related issue, UNHCR Representative Abel Mnilinyi
confirmed that a group of Somali refugees, detained since
July by Malawi authorities, was successfully deported to
Tanzania. The GOM had attempted to deport the group to
Ethiopia, but they were denied permission to enter that
country. Dzaleka Camp staff and some in the Malawi media had
speculated that at least one of the detainees was suspected
by the GOM to be a supporter of Al Shabab.


5. (C) COMMENT: The GOM's progress in controlling its
borders is a welcome development. Minister Sangala had
stated that refugees and illegal immigration would be his top
concerns (reftel). His efforts are having an effect. Post
has asked the GOM to identify specific areas where we can
assist.
BODDE