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48 illegal immigrants from Burundi arrested in Tanzania

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Tanzanian authorities on Thursday arrested 48 illegal immigrants from Burundi, who entered into the country from Kenya through Sirari border in Mara region.

Proches Kuoko, Mara regional immigration officer, told a news conference that among the arrested were two pregnant women and 24 children aged less than 18 years.

Kuoko said the illegal immigrants confessed that they were Burundians fleeing from the political upheaval in the tiny east African nation.

"The Burundians crossed into Tanzania after authorities in Kenya denied them residence permits," said Kuoko,

The officer said the Burundians passed through Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya before they arrived in Tanzania.

"We are liaising with the Department of Refugees in Dar es Salaam who could tell us what to do next," said Kuoko, adding that it was not possible to repatriate them to Burundi because of the ongoing political crisis.

More than 126,000 Burundians have sought refuge in Tanzania since April 2015 as a result of political unrest in the country.

With 64,000 Congolese refugees already in the country, Tanzania is now home to over 190,000 refugees. Endit