The Twists and Turns of U.S.- Tanzania Bilateral Relations

After attaining independence in 1961, the United Republic of Tanzania became instrumental in liberation movements throughout Africa. Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s first president, established the ideology of Ujamaa (African socialism) as Tanzania’s political, social, and economic ideology. At the time of independence, the US established diplomatic ties with Tanzania and Nyerere had a close relationship with President John F. Kennedy. Nyerere stepped down from his presidency in 1985 and subsequent presidents opened Tanzania to become more democratic politically and economically while maintaining a socialist philosophy further strengthening relations with the US. However, the presidency of the late President John Magufuli eroded some of the democratic strides that previous presidents had instilled, straining bilateral relations with the US while strengthening ties with China. Nonetheless, the current administration under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan has beckoned on the United States for an improved relationship and deeper bilateral economic ties.
Mvemba is joined by Ambassador Michael Battle, United States Ambassador to Tanzania, to discuss the history and current state of U.S.- Tanzania bilateral relations. Ambassador Battle shares his hopes of transformed US-Tanzania relations from an aid and development assistance model to a trade and investment model.

[@stasiekpiekarski]

Fully agree with the last statement. I'm looking forward for the next episode.

[@Nedjadist]

Excellent interview. Kudos to the embassador. He is remarkably truthful, open and well- meaning. The interviewer was on top of his subject. Actually, Tanzania has been lucky to have been receiving well-meaning, graceful US envoys since independence. Not really sure why is that. When you compare with Kenya and Uganda, they had a cackle of ambassadors who were 'enfants charmants et fourbes', garrulous, self-indulging and interfering in internal affairs. Whatever the Tanzanian Foreign Ministry does to get this quality of envoys, it should continue to do so. I can only guess that some of the qualities of life in Tanzania that make the envoys fall in love with her are: peoples' hospitality and humbleness, peaceful co-existance, easy to mix and lack of overbearing formalities like in dress code and looking diplomatically congeneric. In Kenya, an envoy is expected to turn up at any occasion in a three- piece suit, be it in a sweltering Mombasa or in a mild Machakos while in Tanzania he would not be out of place if he turned up in pyjamas! He/She will be accorded same respect. This makes people feel relaxed. You know why is that so ? Upon independence NYERERE had refused to embrace western values and manners hook, bait and sinker, as the jirani did! Look at the dress code of the Kenyan MPs and their Tanzanian counterparts! The love of your own inevitably makes envoys accord respect to the place more, because they realise the place IS different. Moral of the story: be yourself, preserve your authenticity. Nobody will respect you if you ape them in everything, why should they?