Tanzania Pushes Ahead With Major US Trade Deals Even as Rights Abuses Trigger Global Alarm

Tanzania and the United States are racing to seal multibillion-dollar investment deals, even as Washington and international rights bodies raise fresh concerns over the country’s democratic backsliding and heavy-handed security operations.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday, December 8, 2025, hosted Acting US Ambassador Andrew Lentz at Chamwino State House for high-level talks that signalled what both sides framed as a deepening economic partnership.

The meeting reviewed progress on three flagship projects: the USD 42 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, the Tembo Nickel development, and the USD 300 million Mahenge Graphite project.

Officials confirmed that negotiations for the LNG and Tembo Nickel agreements are in the final stretch, with signatures expected soon.

Work on the Mahenge Graphite project is ongoing, part of Tanzania’s broader push to position itself as a key supplier of essential minerals for global clean-energy transitions.

Ambassador Lentz said Washington wants a relationship built on “shared prosperity” rather than aid dependency.

President Samia underscored Tanzania’s willingness to work with partners who “respect its sovereignty” and support long-term economic transformation.

She noted that more than 400 American companies are currently operating in the country, a sign she said reflects investor confidence and Tanzania’s stability.

Beyond trade, the discussions touched on political stability, regional security cooperation, governance reforms, health programmes, and private-sector development.

Lentz praised Samia’s Vision 2050 blueprint and her 4R philosophy of Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding, saying the US was ready to back those ambitions.

Massive economic stakes

The LNG project remains Tanzania’s most significant investment prospect in decades, with analysts estimating it could inject thousands of jobs and billions in state revenue once operational.

The Tembo Nickel project, valued at KSh121.8 billion, is at the centre of US interest in diversifying global supply chains for electric-vehicle batteries and other green-tech manufacturing.

The Mahenge Graphite project also feeds into the same strategy, positioning Tanzania as a critical minerals hub.

Rights concerns intensify

But the budding partnership comes at a moment of deep unease over Tanzania’s human rights environment.

On December 4, the US State Department issued a strongly worded statement flagging deteriorating conditions for religious freedom, free expression and political participation.

The statement cited post-election violence following the disputed October 29 vote and warned that the escalating situation could endanger American citizens and destabilise the wider region.

International scrutiny has sharpened ahead of Tanzania’s Independence Day celebrations on December 9.

The UN Human Rights Office urged the government to allow peaceful assemblies and rein in security forces after reports of sweeping arrests and the use of force against protesters.

Domestic rights groups say more than 2,000 people have been detained since the election unrest, a figure authorities have neither confirmed nor denied.

The government has instead issued a nationwide advisory urging citizens to stay home for Independence Day “for their own safety,” while Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said only those with essential duties should report to work.

A delicate balancing act

Analysts say Tanzania is walking a tightrope: courting record-breaking American investment while managing rising domestic dissent and growing international criticism.

For President Samia, the coming weeks will test whether her administration can reassure global partners without widening the rift at home.

The success of the US-Tanzania deals and the country’s global standing now hinge on how she navigates the dual pressures of economic ambition and human rights accountability.