On 20 November 2018, Tanzanian military personnel cordoned off forex bureaus in Arusha in a move that unsettled customers and traders in the city’s central business district.
The operation began between 11am and 12 noon on Tuesday, when soldiers moved in and stood guard outside the currency exchange shops, blocking access to the premises. Some officers were also seen working from inside, prompting speculation that the exercise may have been an audit ordered by the Bank of Tanzania.
According to The Citizen, a senior BoT official in Arusha initially reacted with surprise when contacted. She later said the central bank would issue a statement on the closure of the bureaux de changes.
Owners of the dozens of outlets in the area could not be reached for comment by press time. Tanzania People’s Defence Force spokesperson Mr Ramadhani Dogoli declined to discuss the matter and referred the reporter to Arusha Regional Police Commander Mr Ramadhani Ng’anzi.
Mr Ng’anzi said he had no authority to comment on military operations. “The army operates independently, so I can’t interfere,” he responded in a telephone interview.
Arusha is a major tourist city and a key stop on the northern Tanzania safari circuit. It also serves as a gateway to Serengeti National Park, known for the wildebeest migration, and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro. The city is also a conference hub and hosts the headquarters of the East African Community Secretariat.
Reporting by The Citizen
