VZCZCXYZ0034
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDR #1464 3062047
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 022047Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7008
INFO RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 2598
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 3258
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 0333
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 3085
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI PRIORITY 1031
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0245
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0835
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY

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 
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¶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