Tanzania suspends granting of citizenship to Burundian refugees

Published: 20/Jul/2017
Source: Xinhua

DAR ES SALAAM, July 20 (Xinhua) — Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Thursday ordered relevant authorities in the east African nation to stop granting citizenship to Burundian refugees.

President Magufuli made the directive shortly after he had held talks with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza in a border town of Ngara in Kagera region, said a statement from the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House.

President Magufuli ordered the country’s Minister for Home Affairs, Mwigulu Nchemba, to ensure that no more Burundian refugees were granted Tanzanian citizenship. He did not give reasons for his action.

In 2014, Tanzania announced that it was in the process of granting citizenship to 162,000 Burundian refugees who had fled their country in 1972.

Read further on Xinhua: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/21/c_136460073.htm

Themes: Naturalisation and Marriage, Nationality and Refugees
Regions: Tanzania
Year: 2017