Rwandans with Tanzanian passports held in Malawi

A number of illegal Rwandan immigrants have been arrested here and found in possession of temporary Tanzanian passports, Malawian media reported on Friday.

The National newspaper reported that John Mamalenga, police spokesman for Northern Region, confirmed the development saying the suspects have since been charged with illegal possession of false documents from Tanzania and illegal entry into Malawi.

In another development, the government has deployed Malawi Defence Forces personnel at the region`s borders to join hands with police force units on the ground in an effort to curb the influx of illegal immigrants from Tanzania.

Other illegal immigrants said to have been flocking here under the disguise of seeking asylum are from Rwanda and Somalia.

They are understood to be making it into Malawi using unofficial routes through the border districts of Chitipa, Karonga and Mzimba.

Reports say most of these have ended up as drug and human traffickers or armed robbers.

Defence minister Bob Khamisa confirmed the deployment of the MDF units, saying the army was meant to support the police force and that it was an internal security matter meant to crack down on illegal immigrants.

He said the government has deployed troops from the Chilumba Garrison in Karonga, adding that the Defence ministry would reinforce the patrols with more soldiers from Moyale Barracks if necessary.
The rare deployment of MDF units comes only months after police in Karonga district intercepted and arrested 40-year-old South African national Falook Chris, suspected to be behind the trafficking of four Rwandan nationals into Malawi.

There was no immediate comment on the matter from Tanzanian government officials yesterday but analysts here fear the development could be a pointer to the porous nature of the Tanzania-Malawi border.