By: ThinkBusiness Africa
The United States has announced a comprehensive and immediate review of its long-standing bilateral relationship with Tanzania, following what the State Department calls “grave concerns” over the country’s recent actions regarding human rights, political stability, and the climate for American investment.
The decision was officially communicated in a
statement from the state Department on Thursday, which accused the Tanzanian government of actions that have put U.S. interests and American citizens in the East African nation at risk.
The U.S. pointed to the government’s “ongoing repression of religious freedom and free speech,” a move seen as undermining the democratic principles Washington seeks to promote.
“disturbing violence against civilians” that occurred during the lead-up to and following Tanzania’s October 29 elections was highlighted in the statement.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, had accused the administration of overseeing a “wave of terror” in the run-up to the election, citing reports of abductions, intimidation, and enforced disappearances of political opponents and activists.
Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan has said the election was fair and promised to investigate the violence after the turmoil led to the country’s biggest political crisis in decades.
The state department noted that this widespread violence has also triggered the “presence of persistent obstacles to U.S. investment,” signaling frustration among American businesses over bureaucratic hurdles, opaque regulations, and an unpredictable operating environment.
While the U.S. reaffirmed the value of its decades-long partnership with the people of Tanzania, it warned that the recent developments raise serious doubts about the government’s reliability as a partner.
The comprehensive review indicates that the U.S. will assess the future of cooperation, which could lead to diplomatic censure, a reduction in aid, or a reconsideration of trade and investment benefits.
“Tanzania’s ongoing repression of religious freedom and free speech, the presence of persistent obstacles to U.S. investment, and disturbing violence against civilians in the days leading up to and following Tanzania’s October 29 elections, required this reconsideration of our ties,” the US department said.
U.S. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stock in Tanzania totals approximately $1 billion. American companies are present in agriculture, technology sectors with ongoing efforts to expand this footprint, though this growth is challenged by the current investment climate.
