The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tanzania, in close collaboration with the Tanzanian Regional Immigration Training Academy and IOM African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC), organized a four-day “Return Management Workshop: Lessons Learned from Mtabila Camp Closure, Operation Kimbunga and the way Forward in Western Tanzania”.

The workshop took place in Moshi from 25th to 28th February 2014. The event was attended by senior immigration officials from Tanzania and the agenda included presentations and roundtable discussions on international norms and principles of protection and best practices in managing voluntary returns, as well as on recent events such as the closure of the Mtabila refugee camp in Tanzania and “Operation Kimbunga” in North-Western Tanzania (Over the past four months, approximately 50.000 migrants have been expelled from Tanzania, resulting in a migration crisis for its neighbors).The expected outcome of the meeting was a consolidated workplan for the rollout of the new project based on the relevant lessons learned.

The workshop was one of the key activities of the new IOM project “Migration Crisis Support to Address Migrant Expulsions in Western Tanzania”, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The project assists the Government of Tanzania in pursuing a comprehensive and protection-sensitive migration management approach with the objective to reduce the number of stranded and vulnerable irregular migrants around Tanzania’s border with Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. The main activities consist of registering migrants with a view to support their voluntary return or the regularization of their immigration status in Tanzania, and building the capacities of border agencies to manage migration in a way that protects national borders and respects migrants’ human rights. “We really appreciate IOM’s assistance in offering the opportunity to register these migrants and promoting a humanitarian approach at the affected borders” stated one immigration officer during IOM recent assessment conducted at the Burundian - Tanzanian border.