National identity cards will be issued in Tanzania in 2009. The project is being implemented under an independent National ID Management Agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It will cost $152 million and is aimed at controlling illegal immigration. Some 2,300 illegal immigrants were caught in the country during the first eight months of 2007.
At least 503 illegal immigrants from Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea were in various prisons in the country awaiting deportation to their respective countries – Guardian.