Tanzania Foreign Policy

According to the Presidential Notice on assignments of Ministerial functions as per Government Notice No. 619B of 30^th August 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation is mandated to protect, promote and advance the interests of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) through foreign engagements.

In the conduct of the Foreign Policy, the United Republic of Tanzania is guided by the principles of sanctity of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence; defence of freedom, justice, human rights, equality and democracy; cultivating good neighborliness and bolstering African unity.

It is also the country’s mission to foster deeper economic cooperation with development partners; support non-alignment and South-South cooperation; collaborate with the United Nations in pursuit of international economic development, peace, and security as well as safeguarding the social and values of the people of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The revised Foreign Policy focuses on ten (10) thematic areas namely economic diplomacy; the promotion of peace, security, and political stability; the ratification and domestication of international treaties and protocols; effective participation in bilateral, regional and international bodies; the use of Kiswahili as an instrument of diplomacy and mobilizing international resources for national development.

Other areas of focus are diaspora participation; maximizing opportunities arising from the blue economy and dispensing human rights and good governance in accordance with the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977 and its social and cultural values. The Policy also addresses crosscutting issues, namely environment and climate change and gender and youth. The United Republic of Tanzania aims to heighten international cooperation on environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation, and mainstream the gender and youth affairs in international relations.

The formulation of this Policy considered several international instruments including, The African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa we Want; the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development. Its preparation also incorporated domestic instruments, particularly the Tanzania Development Vision 2025; Zanzibar Development Vision 2050; short, medium and long-term plans, as well as the Ruling Party’s Election Manifesto of 2020. To keep up with global dynamics, the Policy will be reviewed as deemed necessary.

The development of the Policy further involved an assessment of the implementation strategy, and was a participatory and consultative process. Heartfelt acknowledgments are extended to all institutions and individuals involved for their concerted work and immense contribution to this effort. Finally, continued stakeholders’ support in the implementation of this Policy is paramount to achieving its objectives.