Citizenship without Integration: The Case of 1972 Burundian Refugees in Tanzania

Opportuna Kweka

Abstract


This paper reviews the process of naturalization of 1972 Burundian refugees in Tanzania. It draws from the literature on refugees and citizenship which provides a critique to the argument that integration of refugees begins at the time of their arrival and the neoliberal assumption of “flexible citizenship.” It shows how after 40 years of living in the country and having to meet the requirements for naturalization the refugees still struggled to negotiate for citizenship and are yet to be integrated. The empirical data to support the argument is drawn from observations made by the author in different years between 2003 and 2012 and review of secondary materials such as policies, plans and strategies for naturalization and integration of the 1972 Burundian Refugees in Tanzania. The paper calls for examination of everyday practices which are geared towards access to citizenship in determining local integration.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aminzade, Ronald. 2013. Race, Nation and Citizenship in Post-Colonial Africa: the Case of Tanzania. New York, Cambridge University Press.

Bloemraad, Iren. 2004. Who claims for dual citizenship? The limits of Postnationalism, the Possibilities of Trans-nationalism, and the Persistence of Traditional Citizenship. International Migration Review, 38, (2):389-426.

CSFM, IRRI and CSRC. 2008. Going Home or Staying Home? Ending Displacement for Burundian Refugees in Tanzania. Research Report. www.refugeesrights.org.

CSFM and IRRI. 2009. I do not know where to go: Burundian Refugees in Tanzania under pressure to leave. Research report. www.refugees-rights.org

Chaulia, S. S (2003) “The Politics of refugee hosting in Tanzania: from open door to unstustainability, insecurity, and receding receptivity”, Journal of Refugee Studies, 16, (2): 147-166.

Daley, P. 1992 “The politics of the refugee crisis in Tanzania. In H. Campbell and H. Stein. Tanzania and the IMF: the Dynamics of Liberalization”. Boulder San Fransisco and Oxford, Westview Press.

Fabian P. 2015. Waliopewa Uraia Waahidi Kuchagua CCM. Mtanzania, Ijumaa September 25.

Fellesson M. 2003. Prolonged Exile in relative Isolation: Long Term Consequences of Contrasting Refugee Policies in Tanzania. Studia Sociologica Upsaliensia.

Geschiere, P, 2009. The Perils of Belonging: Autochthony, Citizenship, and Exclusion in Africa and Europe. Chicago, University of Chicago Press.

Guardian Correspondent. 2011. Tanzania Extolled for Naturalizing Refugees. The Guardian, 30th August 2011. IPP Media, Dar es Salaam. Tanzania

Hyndman, J. 1997. Border Crossings. Antipode, 29, (2): 146—179.

IRRI. 2013. I can’t be a Citizen if I am Still a Refugee: Former Burundian Refugees’ Struggle to ascertain their New Tanzania Citizenship. Citizenship and Displacement in the Great Lakes Region. Working paper 8. www.refugeesrights.org

Jacobsen. K 2001. The Forgotten Solution: Local Integration for Refugees in Developing Countries. UNHCR. New Issues in Refugees Research, Working paper no 45.

Kibreab, G (1985) African Refugees: reflections on African Refugee Problems, African World Press.

Kweka, O. L. 2007. The Impact of Structural Adjustment Programme of the Refugee Policy in Tanzania: Implication for Survival Strategies of Burundian Refugees in Camps. PhD Thesis, University of Minnesota, USA.

Kweka, O. L. 1997. Dual Citizenship for Development? Chemchemi, 3: 25-29.

Kweka, O. L. 2012. Tanzania. In Marginalized Population in East Africa, Kituo cha Katiba, Kampala, Uganda.

Oakland Institute. 2011. Understanding Land Investment Deal in Africa: Agrosol Energy and Pharos Global Agriculture Fund’s Land Deal in Tanzania. www.oaklandinstitute.org.

Malkki, L. 1995. Purity and Exile: Violence, memory and national cosmology among Hutu Refugees in Tanzania. Chicago, University Press.

Manby, B. 2009. Struggles for Citizenship in Africa. Open Society Institute, London, UK.

Marshall H. T. 2006. Citizenship and Social Class in The Welfare State Christopher Pierson and Franscis G. Castles (eds). Second Edition, Cambridge: Polity Press.

Meena, B.2011. Serikali Yasitisha Kuwasambaza Raia wapya Nchini. Mwananchi, 25 August 2011.

Milner, J. 2013. Two Steps Forward One Step Back: Understanding the Shifting Politics of Refugees Policy in Tanzania. UNHCR Research paper no 255.

Strang, A and Alastair A. 2010. “Refugees Integration: Emerging Trends and Remaining Agendas”. Journal of Refugee Studies. 23,(4):589-607.

Turner, S. 2010. Politics of Nonsense: Hutu Identity Conflicts and Camp Life. Oxford: Bergham Books.

Turner, S. 1999. Angry young men in camps: gender, age and class relations among Burundian refugees in Tanzania. New Issues in Refugee Research. Working paper no. 9.

UNHCR. 2007. Study of Tanzanian’s Old Settlements Hosting the 1972 Burundian Refugees. Consultancy report by SA3 ltd, Dar es Salaam.

UNHCR. 2000. Survey of Burundians in the Settlement. Research Report. Economic Research Bureau, Department of Economics. University of Dar es Salaam

UNDP. 2010. Tanzania’s Local Integration Programme, Joint Action Plan, newly naturalized Tanzanians 2010-2014.

UNDP and UNHCR. 2011. Transitional Solution Initiatives: Local Integration of the Newly naturalized Tanzanians, support to the National Strategy for Community Integration Programme (NASCIP) 2011-2015


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


 [ISSN 0856-0056 (Print) & ISSN 1821-889X (Online)]