A new research paper released through the Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, has recommended Tanzania for the recent refresh of its foreign policy strategy through an official review commissioned by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, noting that it presents an opportunity to define a bolder strategic vision.
The research paper titled, ‘Reviving Tanzania’s regional leadership and global engagement Priorities for an effective foreign policy reset’, has been written by Fergus Kell, Ally Masabo and Tilmann Feltes.
In its recommendations, it urges Tanzania to take a more proactive approach to regional economic integration, consolidate its role in regional conflict resolution and rejoin multilateral governance and legal initiatives that the country had exited between 2016 and 2020.
It also recommends to Tanzania to ensure that its new foreign policy strategy explicitly highlights a goal to engage with, and learn from the experience of other middle-income countries.
Other recommendations include: Tanzania to embrace international leadership opportunities to advance core principles of South–South cooperation, be transparent about foreign investment agreements and allow dissenting views on foreign policy to be aired freely and go beyond simple platitudes when mentioning climate change and other environmental issues.
The research findings also suggest to Tanzania to signal a new approach and distinguish the new foreign policy strategy from that of the previous administration with refreshed terminology.
It notes that Tanzania has recently begun to re-emerge from a period of damaging isolationism under the 5th phase administration, arguing that this had obstructed international investment and undermined the country’s credible history of global and continental leadership.
The 6th phase President Samia Suluhu Hassan, commissioned an official review of foreign policy strategy – seeking a first refresh of policy for over two decades. “This review provides a chance to consolidate Tanzania’s revival as an economic and diplomatic leader,“ notes the study
It further states that Tanzania’s rising economic influence and its ambitions to complete major cross-border railway and energy infrastructure projects will demand a more active leadership role on regional integration efforts, alongside commitments on peacekeeping and conflict mediation.
It notes that Tanzania’s re-engagement with a range of international partners is already delivering greater choice and resilience in trade and foreign investment links.
“Examples of this are the pursuit of stronger ties with countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam; the consolidation of emerging strategic partnerships, particularly with the Gulf Arab states; and a repair of established relations with China, India and Western partners, ”it states
More specific highlights from the findings include:
- Tanzania’s growing significance as a regional economic power contrasts with its past reluctance to embrace integration. Ambitions for major cross-border infrastructure projects and a revived role on conflict resolution present opportunities to demonstrate regional leadership.
- Tanzania’s pursuit of a diverse range of international partnerships is already delivering choice and resilience in trade and finance, and offering opportunities for Tanzania to participate in multilateral leadership on global issues.
- Greater coordination between economic diplomacy and business reforms is critical to Tanzania’s foreign policy effectiveness.
- Contends that a slow and hesitant approach alone will not be enough to safeguard against a return to isolation. A new strategy must emphasize proactive engagement with regional institutions and on global issues.
- Tanzania must seize opportunities in its immediate region, anticipating its expected rise as the largest economy in East Africa and helping to safeguard the viability of major cross-border infrastructure projects.
- Consolidate Tanzania’s role in regional conflict resolution. To mitigate suggestions of divided loyalties and connect with Tanzania’s historical record on conflict mediation efforts, it could bolster the role of Arusha and Zanzibar in hosting talks and show leadership on wider security issues in East and southern Africa, including in the maritime space.
- Rejoin multilateral governance and legal initiatives. Tanzania should rejoin frameworks from which it has previously withdrawn, such as the Open Government Partnership, and put in place legal safeguards to mitigate against future departures.
- Ensure the new strategy explicitly highlights a goal to engage with, and learn from the experience of, other middle-income countries. This could include further consolidating relations with emerging partners such as Indonesia, Vietnam and countries in Central and Eastern Europe. —
- Embrace international leadership opportunities to advance core principles of South–South cooperation. Tanzania could signal its intent to seek non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the first time since 2006, highlighting its existing peacekeeping contributions and furthering its wider agenda for reform of the UN system to allow greater African representation.
- Be transparent about foreign investment agreements and allow dissenting views on foreign policy to be aired freely. A heavy-handed response to criticism – as, for example, in relation to port infrastructure investment by Gulf states – can exacerbate isolationist tendencies and in turn discourage the involvement of external partners in essential major projects.
- Go beyond simple platitudes when mentioning climate change and other environmental issues. The review must help to create a reference point for Tanzanian officials as they engage in international forums while pursuing major oil and gas projects. The development of a critical minerals strategy should also be aligned with the country’s objectives in economic diplomacy.
- Signal a new approach and distinguish the new foreign policy strategy from that of the previous administration with refreshed terminology. The new strategy must be seen as a turning point, and must reject entrenched norms of hesitation or suspicion in external relations. Merely retaining the same basic strategic framing of economic diplomacy and non-alignment, while simply adding new themes, would convey a message of greater passivity than Tanzania’s ambitions deserve.
The Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a world-leading policy institute based in London. Their mission is to help governments and societies build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world.