Tanzania expelled Rwandans before consulting Rwanda, minister
Foireggn Affairs Minister Louis Mushikiwabo said that the government will receive and protect Rwandans who are being expelled from Tanzania based on claims that they are illegal immigrants. She noted that it was regrettable that Tanzania did not consult Rwanda before kicking them out.

“There was a decision made, we were not consulted and our obligation as a state and as a government is to offer protection to the people coming to us and that’s what we have been busy doing,” she said.

Rwandan families, including those who have lived in Tanzania since the 1950s, have for the past three days been arriving through Rusumo border after President Kikwete instructed local officials to give only two weeks to the so called “illegal” immigrants to leave the Kagera Region, which shares borders with Rwanda.

The New Times’ Bureau Chief in the Eastern Province, Stephen Rwembeho, said that some Tanzanians of Rwandan origin have also arrived in Rwanda after their citizenship and other residential documents were torn up and destroyed by local officials in Tanzania.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDMAR), in conjunction with Kirehe District authorities have begun preparations to settle the expelled Rwandans. By press time, nearly 300 had registered with Rwandan Immigration officials