Tanzania Leads Charge on Global Refugee Crisis at UNHCR Summit

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.