Tanzania’s Chief of Defense Force (CDF), General Jacob John Mkunda said that several people who came in as asylum seekers or refugees were appointed to several decision-making posts after staying in the country for a while, a situation he described as a potential security risk.

In his address, Mkunda explained that between January 1 and December 31, 2023, about 138,149 asylum seekers were received in the country, mostly from DRC Congo and Burundi. Mkunda said most of them came in search of greener pastures, which he explained is not a valid reason for the admission of an asylum seeker.

“Some of the refugees or asylum seekers or their families have been employed in different positions in the  government and some have been appointed to several decision-making posts in the government,” said Mkunda in his address during the meeting of the Defense Forces Commanders.

General Mkunda’s remarks have sparked a debate among many observers online, “This is dangerous to the safety and security of our country, how did they manage to pass through vetting,” asked Thomas  Kibwana in X post, Kibwana who is  a regular contributor of The Chanzo, went on to making a  suggestion that there might be an element of  infiltration.

Activist lawyer, Peter Madeleka, who also served as a former Police and immigration officer called the news very important, “Even in the immigration office , some people whose citizenship is questionable needs to be investigated,” said Madeleka in a post.

Many have continued to discuss whether the situation is a typical human error or there is specific engineering to ensure the personnel were placed in some of the institutions.

This is not the first time the country has raised an alert over the issue of illegal migration, In 2013, Tanzania instituted Operation Kimbunga which started on September 06, 2013, following the president’s order to remove illegal immigrants from the country.

The operation was initiated at a time when the country was in fierce tension with its neighbor Rwanda, with many observers relating the exercise to the tension with Rwanda.

In his speech which inspired the operation on July 29, 2013, President Kikwete said that demography in some of the areas in Tanzania is changing rapidly, which is a security risk to the country, Kikwete insisted, that the source of security issues at the border is the illegal immigrants who most of them came in with their weapons.

Kikwete underscored that there was an opportunity to acquire Tanzanian citizenship for most of the immigrants but some refused, this was the foundation of Operation Kimbunga which went on to be criticized due to the violation of rights during the process.

Responding to the caution from the CDF, President Samia said that they have received the warning on assessing the refugees in the country ,and looking for  ways to return them to their host country.

President Samia said that they were used to working with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the task, but lately the institution’s capacity has weakened, therefor the country is going to explore ways of engaging with the neighboring countries over the issue.