Tanzanian President Visits Russia

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan begins a three-day state visit to Russia on Wednesday to meet Vladimir Putin, turning to Moscow as her country’s reputation and relations with the West badly fray.

Western diplomats and rights groups have accused Hassan’s government of massacring hundreds of people during October’s election unrest and orchestrating a wave of abductions and murders of political critics.

While the United States reviews its relations with Tanzania and recently sanctioned a senior Tanzanian police officer for torture, Putin was one of the first to congratulate Hassan on her 98 per cent vote victory.

Hassan remains unapologetic about the political crackdown, describing activists and demonstrators as disrespectful children who should be beaten with canes.

Tanzanian president visits Russia. Credit: African Initiative – News Agency

She brought a business delegation to Moscow, hoping to cement deals in trade, tourism, and minerals during the first state visit to Russia by a Tanzanian president since 1969.

While annual trade currently stands at just over $307 million, the nation hopes to advance a long-delayed uranium mining project.

Analysts note that the visit offers mutual benefits for both isolated administrations.

Russia can leverage the support of a weakened Tanzanian government, potentially securing crucial abstentions during critical United Nations votes regarding the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a Tanzanian government report recently confirmed that last year’s election violence killed 518 people, though the document failed to establish accountability or name those responsible.