A Study On Tanzania Refugee Policy(1961-2015)

Refugee issue is an important factor that disturbs the development of Africa,as a primary refugee reception country,the refugee policy of Tanzania plays a significant role in refugee issues solving.After independence of Tanzania,the refugee policy may be divided into three distinct phases according to the tenures of leadership.President Nyerere administration is the first stage.In this period,the anti-colonialism,and anti-racialism fighting as well as the ideology of "Pan-Africanism" and "Ujamaa socialism" underpinned the "Open Door Policy".Under this policy,a large number of refugees caused by civil war or racial cleaning sought asylum in Tanzania,and Tanzania government also offered them financial and infrastructure supports.President Mwinyi administration is the second stage.At the end of 1980 s and the early nineties,the domestic and overseas situation in Tanzania had changed a lot.First of all,by the end of Nyerere reign,Tanzania suffered severe economy depression which brought economic and political reforms,the "Ujamaa socialism" was abandoned,the one-party system was replaced by multiparty system and the ruling status of CCM was facing challenge from other parties.Secondly,the end of Cold War symbolized the great change of the world pattern.In Africa,the fighting of anticolonialism and anti-racialism were temporarily to rest accompanied by the independence of Namibia and the abrogation of apartheid in South Africa.Meanwhile,the refugee flows happened in Great Lake area impacts Tanzania until now unprecedented.Under the tension from refugee,president Mwinyi tighten the "Open Door Policy".The third stage is the administration of president Mkapa.The Congo War and political crisis in Burundi was the key challenge for Tanzania government,which caused more refugee sought asylum in Tanzania.President Mkapa enacted a new refugee act and published national refugee policy to cope with it for reducing stress.The new refugee policy has established since then and instead the "Open Door Policy" of Nyerere.The factors affect refugee policy decision making of Tanzania government are multiple,not only the change of the situation at home and abroad on the macro level,but also the change of the place where refugee lives on the micro level.This dynamic process including the change of environment,living resources and the change of society security,infrastructure,public service.Moreover,the native people who was affected by refugee adjusted their lifestyle and the living strategy of refugee in difference refugee policy.In general,there are dynamic interactions among national refugee policy and the residents of the local community and refugee.