A total of 1,789 Ethiopian immigrants finally can have a reunion with their friends and loved ones back in their home country. This is after Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli confirms their freedom. The pardon enacts after a diplomatic meeting with Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde. The Ethiopian immigrants’ arrests are based on illegal immigration ordeals into Tanzania. Moreover, Magufuli assures the release comes with no demands despite breaking the immigration rules. He told the prisoners that they are free and can get back to their homes when they want to. The pardon took effect from Monday.
Reason for Ethiopia`s diplomatic visit to Tanzania
The Ethiopian president disclosed her agenda for a visit to Tanzania. Apparently, she came in-person to congratulate Magufuli for his election win. Magufuli took the opportunity to strike an investment and trade cooperation between the two nations. Tanzania Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that it is looking forward to expanding its leather industry in Ethiopia. Additionally, Tanzania hopes to attract Ethiopian investors to boost the industry.
Reason for the Arrest of the Immigrants
During their release, Magufuli mentioned that all the immigrants lack proper documentation to back up their travels. As a result, Tanzania’s security personnel had no other than to take drastic measures and arraign them. According to most immigrants, they are usually on a route to South Africa before they get police intercepts from the Tanzanian Officials. Moreover, Magufuli believes that the pardon will foster diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Previous incidences of immigrant arrests
Ethiopians move through Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania seeking jobs or even asylum. East African countries are not the only ones bearing a huge number of Ethiopians on their country’s run. The Tanzania route is known to most Ethiopians because it is known to take them to South Africa.
A good number of Ethiopians have been arrested on the Kenyan border on accounts of illegal entry. Others on account of being smuggled into Nairobi before the police intercept them. Smugglers extort a good amount of money from these nationals with the promise of taking them to their preferred destination.
Tanzania`s Ministry of Home affairs further highlights how most of the traffickers own Safehouses. Here the immigrants are kept as they wait for their next departure until they arrive at their final destination. The Refugee rights organizations and aid agencies attribute the increasing illegal immigrations to Africa`s state of poverty.
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