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| Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Daniel Sillo (center), Tanzania's Deputy Ambassador to Switzerland, Hoyce Temu, and Director of Refugee Services in Tanzania, Sudi Mwakibasi (right), pose for a group photo after the opening of the 75th Executive Committee meeting of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held October 14, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: Courtesy |
By Adonis Byemelwa
Tanzania’s
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Daniel Sillo, joined his host, Ambassador Hoyce
Temu, Tanzania's Deputy Permanent Representative to Switzerland, and the
Director of the Department of Refugee Services in Tanzania, Sudi Mwakibasi, to
participate in the opening of the 75th Executive Committee meeting of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The summit took place today, October 14, 2024,
in Geneva, Switzerland, with a core focus on strengthening international
collaboration to address the growing refugee crisis and discussing the
multifaceted challenges refugees face globally.
This
75th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee is a critical platform, gathering
world leaders and policymakers to debate and find sustainable solutions to the
ongoing refugee crisis, a matter that has only intensified in recent years.
According to UNHCR reports, there are over 100
million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including refugees, asylum
seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). East Africa remains one of
the most affected regions, with Tanzania playing a pivotal role as a host
country, sheltering over 200,000 refugees, primarily from Burundi and the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The
situation in Tanzania is complex, as the country balances humanitarian efforts
with security concerns. The challenges of managing refugee populations are
compounded by limited resources, environmental degradation, and social tensions
between refugees and host communities.
As
such, the ongoing discussions in Geneva aim to mobilize more international
support, both financially and technically, to ensure that refugee-hosting countries
like Tanzania are not left to bear the burden alone.
Ambassador
Hoyce Temu has been at the forefront of advocating for a peaceful and
diplomatic approach to managing the influx of refugees while encouraging the
international community to engage in long-term peace-building efforts in
conflict-prone regions.
With
Tanzania being a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC),
the nation plays a significant role in regional security, particularly under
the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Recently,
President Samia assumed the mantle of SADC's chairperson on security matters
during the SADC annual conference held in Harare, Zimbabwe. This role places
her in a key position to influence regional security strategies, especially in
East Africa, where the ripple effects of conflict in neighboring countries like
Mozambique and the DRC have contributed to the surge in refugee numbers.
Experts
in East African security studies, such as Dr.
Ajali Nguyahambi from the University of Dodoma, have pointed out that
addressing the root causes of displacement—violence, political instability, and
economic deprivation—must be prioritized to curb the growing refugee crisis.
“Peace
and security initiatives should not only be reactive but preventative,” Dr
Nguyahambi was quoted as saying, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and
conflict resolution mechanisms at the grassroots level.
The
war in the eastern DRC, as well as ongoing instability in South Sudan and
Somalia, continues to drive thousands of people to seek refuge in neighboring
countries.
Ambassador
Hoyce Temu, with her extensive experience in international diplomacy and
peacekeeping, has been instrumental in fostering dialogue between Tanzania and
international bodies such as the UNHCR, advocating for more robust
international intervention to halt the escalation of violence.
Ms.
Temu’s role highlights the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response that
bridges the gap between humanitarian relief and sustainable peace.
The
international community is urged to increase its support for peacekeeping
missions, conflict resolution efforts, and economic development in
conflict-ridden regions. Many analysts, including Dr. Elias Ngoma, a peace and
security scholar from Makerere University, argue that without meaningful
international engagement, particularly in mediating conflicts, refugee numbers
will continue to soar.
Dr.
Ngoma asserts that regional organizations like SADC and the African Union (AU)
must strengthen their peacekeeping frameworks, ensuring that member states are
not only responding to crises but also working actively to prevent them.
Tanzania
stands out as a critical player in managing refugee flows in East Africa as the
75th UNHCR Executive Committee convenes in Geneva. The leadership of figures
such as President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Ambassador Hoyce Temu, coupled with
insights from regional security experts, underscores the urgent need for
sustained international cooperation to tackle both the symptoms and root causes
of the refugee crisis.
Without
robust international support, the cycle of displacement will persist, with
far-reaching consequences. It is only through these collective efforts that
East Africa can hope to stem the tide of forced migration and build a future where
peace triumphs over conflict.