The Integration and Protection of Refugees for a Durable Solution in Tanzania
Keywords:
Refugees, asylum seekers, refugee rights, naturalisation, forced repatriation.Abstract
This paper examines the laws and policies to host refugees, promote their rights and integrate them in Tanzania. Individuals flee their countries of origin due to wars, persecution, violation of human rights, environmental disasters or climate change. Refugees receive protection in their host countries, and they cannot be forcibly repatriated to their countries of origin against their will. Tanzania has enacted laws and made policies to protect refugee rights on its territory. Since its independence, Tanzania has exhibited generosity in receiving refugees from its neighbouring states and southern African countries. Refugees live in specific areas with limited freedom of movement. Tanzania has naturalised some refugees from Rwanda, Somalia and Burundi to provide durable solutions to their plights. However, Tanzania has changed its policies towards refugees and has engaged in forcibly repatriating some refugees from Rwanda and Burundi. Tanzania must re-evaluate its current laws and policies on refugees to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers are adequately protected. Furthermore, refugees need to find a durable solution to their plights.
References
Chaulia, S. S. (2003). The Politics of Refugee Hosting in Tanzania: From Open Door to Unsustainability, Insecurity and Receding Receptivity. Journal of Refugee Studies, 16(2), 147-166.
Chol, A. A. (1992). The Influence of Law and Related Factors in the Integration of Refugees in Tanzania. International Journal of Refugee Law, 4(2), 171-188.
Fellesson, M. (2019). From Roll-Out to Reverse: Understanding Tanzania’s Withdrawal from the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). Journal of Refugee Studies, 34(3), 2699-2719.
Gasarasi, C. P. (1990). The Mass Naturalisation and Further Integration of Rwandese in Tanzania: Process, Problems and Prospects. Journal of Refugee Studies, 3(2), 88-109.
Goodwin-Gill, G. S. (1982). Entry and Exclusion of Refugees: The Obligations of States and the Protection Function of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Michigan Journal of International Law, 3(1), 291-337.
Harting, P. (1983). Statement by Mr Poul Harting, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on the Occasion of the Award of the Nansen Medal for 1983 to His Excellency Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/publications/statement-mr-poul-hartling-united-nations-high-commissioner-refugees-occasion-award-0.
Hovil, L. & Maple, N. (2022). Local Integration: A Durable Solution in Need of Restoration. Refugee Survey Quarterly, 41(2), 238-266.
Kamanga, K. (2005). The (Tanzania) Refugees Act of 1998: Some Legal and Policy Implications. Journal of Refugee Studies, 18(1), 100-116.
Kanamugire, J. C. (2016). Local Integration as a Durable Solution for Refugees in South Africa. Acta Universitatis Danubius Juridica, 12(3), 44-57.
Kibreab, G. (1989). Local Settlement in Africa: a Misconceived Option. Journal of Refugee Studies, 2(4), 468-490.
Kuch, A. (2016). Naturalisation of Burundian Refugees in Tanzania: the Debate on Local Integration and the Meaning of Citizenship Revisited. Journal of Refugee Studies, 30(3), 468-487.
L’Ecluse, W. (2010). Refugee Politics in Tanzania: Receding Receptivity and New Approaches to Asylum. LLM Dissertation, Universiteit Gent. Retrieved from https://libstore.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/001/491/185/RUG01-001491185_2011_0001_AC.pdf.
Mahalu, C. R. (1988). The Legal Regime for Refugees in Eastern African States. Africa and International Law, 26(3), 23-48.
Makhema, M. (2019). Social Protection for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). Retrieved from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/799011468104641822/pdf/491680NWP0Asyl10Box338943B01PUBLIC1.pdf.
Manby, B. (2018). Statelessness and Citizenship in the East African Community. Retrieved from https://www.refworld.org/reference/research/unhcr/2018/en/122374.
Meeren, R. V. D. (1996). Three Decades in Exile: Rwandan Refugees 1960 – 1990, Journal of Refugee Studies, 9(3), 252-267.
Mendel, T. D. (1997). Refugee Law and Practice in Tanzania. International Journal of Refugee Law, 9(1), 35-59.
Milner, J. (2014). Can Global Refugee Policy Leverage Durable Solutions? Lessons from Tanzania’s Naturalisation of Burundian Refugees. Journal of Refugee Studies, 27(4), 553-573.
Novel, P. (1982). Refugees, Law and Development in Africa. Michigan Journal of International Law, 3(1), 255-287.
Ongpin, P. (2008). Refugees in Tanzania – Asset or Burden? Journal of Development and Social Transformation, 5, 13-23.
Peter, C. M. (1997). Rights and Duties of Refugees Under Municipal Law in Tanzania: Examining a Proposed New Legislation. Journal of African Law, 41(1), 81-89.
Randy, C., Newland, K., Fratzke, S., & Groves, S. (2015). Integrating Refugees in the United States: The Successes and Challenges of Resettlement in a Global Context. Statistical Journal of the IAOS, 31(3), 341-367.
Tanzania. (1966). Refugees (Control) Act No. 2 of 1966.
Tanzania. (1998). Refugees Act No. 9 of 1998.
UNHCR. (2018). Nansen Refugee Award – The 2018 Ceremony. UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/nansen-refugee-award.html, date: 22 April 2024.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jean Chrysostome Kanamugire

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The author fully assumes the content originality and the holograph signature makes him responsible in case of trial.