THE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton, leaves today for an eight day factfinding visit to Tanzania and Rwanda. The main aim is to assess the impact on both countries of the return of almost one million Rwandan refugees in recent weeks.
In Rwanda, Ms Burton is expected to inspect conditions in some of the country's overcrowded jails. She also hopes to attend one of the trials of Hutu extremists who are accused of participating in the 1994 genocide. After much delay, these trials have begun and the first death sentences were handed down in two cases last week.
The visit will also be marked by the signing of a new three year aid co operation agreement between Ireland and Tanzania. This follows the completion last year of a major review of Irish aid programmes in the east African country.
About £5 million in bilateral aid was allocated to Tanzania in 1996, and it is expected that a further £18 million will be spent between now and 1999.
It is now estimated that 460,000 of the 540,000 Rwandans who were in Tanzanian refugee camps until December have returned home. On Friday, Ms Burton will visit Kibundo in the Kigoma region, which still has 176,000 refugees in a number of camps. These include 28,000 displaced Zaireans and 77,000 refugees who fled from the ethnic fighting in Burundi.
The Minister is scheduled to meet the former Tanzanian president, Dr Julius Nyerere, at his home in Musomo on Thursday. Dr Nyerere, who spoke in Dublin six weeks ago, has played a central role in African efforts to bring peace to the Great Lakes region.
The continuing violence in Burundi, where up to 1,000 people a week are dying, is likely to figure prominently in their talks.
Ms Burton's first official visit to Tanzania as Minister will also be marked by discussions with senior ministers on Tanzania's economic situation, one year after the election of a multi party government.
Among the Irish aid projects which the Minister will visit is a coastal zone conservation programme at Tanga, in the north of the country, which is attempting to remedy the destruction of coral reefs caused by over fishing. Ms Burton will meet some of the Rosminian Fathers who have been in Tanga for the past 51 years.
Ms Burton and her husband, Mr Pat Carroll, will also visit the university in Dar es Salaam where they both taught between 1983 and 1986. She will visit a number of aid projects run by Concern and Trocaire at Gisenyi in eastern Rwanda, near where more than 500,000 refugees returned from Zaire on a single day in November.
