The United States has announced that it is reviewing its relationship with Tanzania following concerns over recent actions by the Tanzanian government.
In a statement on Thursday, December 4, the US Department of State said the decision follows concerns about governance, security, and the overall direction of the bilateral relationship.
"The United States values its longstanding partnership with the people of Tanzania, which has brought prosperity to our populations and security to the region. Recent actions by the Government of Tanzania, however, raise grave concerns about the direction of our bilateral relationship and the reliability of the Tanzanian Government as a partner," the statement read.
The US government said the review was prompted by several issues, including human rights concerns, investment barriers, and election-related violence.
"As a result, the United States is comprehensively reviewing our relationship with the Government of Tanzania. The Government of 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 statement added.
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The US Department of State also warned that the situation in Tanzania has put Americans and US interests at risk.
"These actions have put American citizens, tourists, and U.S. interests in Tanzania at risk, and threatened to undermine the mutual prosperity and security that have defined our partnership for decades," the statement further read.
The US concluded by stating that the future of its relationship with Tanzania will depend on the actions taken by the Tanzanian government.
"The United States cannot overlook actions that jeopardize the safety of our citizens, or the security and stability of the region. The future of our bilateral relationship with the Government of Tanzania will be based on its actions," the statement concluded.
This development comes days after the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam issued a new security alert warning its citizens of possible nationwide anti-government demonstrations in the coming days.
In a notice dated Friday, November 28, the embassy said demonstrations have been planned for December 9, but cautioned that they could begin sooner.
It explained that its alert is informed by the unrest that followed the October 29 elections, saying that period saw significant damage and disruption across the country.
"There are ongoing calls for nationwide anti-government demonstrations on December 9, but protest activity could begin as early as December 5.
"Recent unrest around Tanzania’s October 29 elections resulted in destruction of public infrastructure, violence against civilians, internet shutdowns, and major travel disruptions," the notice read.
According to the advisory, anyone travelling to Tanzania in the coming weeks should prepare for widespread disruptions, including movement restrictions and possible shutdowns of key services.
"Travelers to Tanzania over the next several weeks should be prepared for potential disruptions, including the possibility of unrest, nation-wide curfews, an internet blackout, cancellation of ferries to Zanzibar, cancellation of international flights, and roadblocks enacted to enforce strict movement controls," the notice added.
The embassy also noted that foreigners in Tanzania have been receiving increased attention from security agencies following the recent unrest, including checks on their electronic devices.
"Following recent unrest, foreign nationals have experienced increased attention from local security authorities, and security forces have searched electronics for evidence of connection to unrest or politically sensitive content," the notice further read.
It further highlighted that Tanzanian authorities have warned the public against sharing material that could be considered alarming or politically sensitive.
"Police have reminded the public that under Tanzanian law, the sharing of pictures or videos that may cause panic is a criminal offense. There are reports of security authorities searching electronic devices for politically sensitive content," the notice concluded.
