Askari Kanzu
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- Jan 7, 2011
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Al-Shabaab scare keeps Namanga officials on their toes
Arusha Times By Staff Writer
Authorities at the Tanzania-Kenya border in Namanga area of Longido District have raised alarm over the possibility of having Al-Shabaab insurgents infiltrating into the country through the highly permeable borderline.
"The over 200 kilometers long borderline is mostly wilderness dotted with hundreds of ‘Panya routes' through which, human trafficking business thrives," said Mr Albert Kishe the head of immigration department at Namanga.
More than 200 illegal Somali immigrants have so far been arrested at either Namanga or Longido between January and December 2011, according to immigration officials.
Mr Kishe said they have now been compelled to formulate a working team comprised of immigration and police officers from both sides of the borders as well as customs officials to address the situation which now seems to be taking a dangerous twist.
"We are also involving residents of Namanga and Longido areas to help inform authorities over the current free movements of Somalis who through special arrangements with local conduits, have been flocking into Tanzania, through Namanga wilderness," said Mr Kishe.
He added that since people from Somalia all look alike, it will be difficult to single out who are illegal immigrants heading to South Africa via Kenya and Tanzania or who could be Al-Shabaab militants out to establish secret bases in Arusha and other parts of the country.
Investigations conducted along Namanga border reveal that local residents, especially the Maasai smuggle and hide Somali immigrants at lucrative prices of up to 100,000/- per head.
Somalis are dressed in traditional Maasai attires and are ferried across the border among groups of native Maasais complete with herds of cattle then taken all the way to Arusha where they normally board trucks and buses to other parts of the country but with a mission to reach South Africa.
Full story
Arusha Times By Staff Writer
Authorities at the Tanzania-Kenya border in Namanga area of Longido District have raised alarm over the possibility of having Al-Shabaab insurgents infiltrating into the country through the highly permeable borderline.
"The over 200 kilometers long borderline is mostly wilderness dotted with hundreds of ‘Panya routes' through which, human trafficking business thrives," said Mr Albert Kishe the head of immigration department at Namanga.
More than 200 illegal Somali immigrants have so far been arrested at either Namanga or Longido between January and December 2011, according to immigration officials.
Mr Kishe said they have now been compelled to formulate a working team comprised of immigration and police officers from both sides of the borders as well as customs officials to address the situation which now seems to be taking a dangerous twist.
"We are also involving residents of Namanga and Longido areas to help inform authorities over the current free movements of Somalis who through special arrangements with local conduits, have been flocking into Tanzania, through Namanga wilderness," said Mr Kishe.
He added that since people from Somalia all look alike, it will be difficult to single out who are illegal immigrants heading to South Africa via Kenya and Tanzania or who could be Al-Shabaab militants out to establish secret bases in Arusha and other parts of the country.
Investigations conducted along Namanga border reveal that local residents, especially the Maasai smuggle and hide Somali immigrants at lucrative prices of up to 100,000/- per head.
Somalis are dressed in traditional Maasai attires and are ferried across the border among groups of native Maasais complete with herds of cattle then taken all the way to Arusha where they normally board trucks and buses to other parts of the country but with a mission to reach South Africa.
Full story
