News Africa

63 illegal Ethiopian migrants seized in Tanzania, 40 on the run

Police said that about 100 Ethiopian immigrants sneaked into Tanzania via Nairobi and Mombasa on their way to South Africa but the lorry they were travelling in was intercepted following an accident in the area over the Easter weekend.

Njombe Regional Police Commander, Hamis Issah said that a Scania lorry ferrying the Ethiopians stalled after it was involved in an accident with a car and the immigrants escaped.

Njombe Regional Immigration Officer, Vincent Haule confirmed the incident and said that 63 Ethiopians, who looked exhausted, were arrested from a hideout in a nearby farm, and that police were still searching for about other 40 escapees.

Porous border

Mr. Haule said that the Ethiopians sneaked into the country through the porous border between Tanzania and Kenya.

“These Ethiopian nationals travelled from Nairobi and Mombasa then entered Tanzania through Tanga. We have arrested 63 and we are searching for 40 who are still on the run,” he said.

Tanzania has been rated the leading entry point for illegal immigrants from Eastern Africa sneaking to Southern Africa states to seek economic fortunes.

South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Botswana are the final destinations for immigrants from the Horn of Africa.

There are 4,419 illegal immigrants in Tanzanian prisons whose maintenance costs the government about Tsh5.8 billion ($ 2.5 million) annually.

Daily food budget

The annual report of the Controller and Auditor-General (CAG) for the financial year ended June 30, 2022 that was submitted to the Tanzanian Parliament had indicated that the daily food budget stood at Tsh 5,000/- ($ 2.1) for each immigrant held in the country awaiting deportation.

Prohibited immigrants and deportees who have failed to return to their home countries have been living in Tanzanian prisons for a period ranging from one to five years, the CAG report said.

However, the deportation of the illegal immigrants is a diplomatic issue that requires consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and ambassadors from their countries of citizenry.

 

Source: www.theeastafrican.co.ke

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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