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Tanzania–United Kingdom relations

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Tanzania – UK relations
Map indicating locations of Tanzania and United Kingdom

Tanzania
United Kingdom
Diplomatic mission
British High Commission, Dar es SalaamHigh Commission of Tanzania, London
Envoy
High Commissioner David ConcarHigh Commissioner Mbelwa Kairuki

Tanzania–United Kingdom relations are bilateral relations between Tanzania and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has historically been a partner of Tanzania in many areas, particularly trade and security.

Early History

Relations between the United Kingdom and what is now Tanzania developed in the early 19th century, as British influence grew in Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the former territories that now make up the modern state of Tanzania.

In Zanzibar, the United Kingdom’s engagement was defined both by commerce and a desire to end the Indian Ocean slave trade. In 1822, the British signed the first of a series of treaties with Said bin Sultan, the Omani sultan of Zanzibar, to curb the trade, with it eventually being prohibited in 1876. In 1890, the British Empire agreed the Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty with Germany, which formally gave them control of Zanzibar. The islands would later declare independence from Britain in 1963.

In Tanganyika, British explorers Richard Francis Burton and John Speke became the first Europeans to visit Lake Tanganyika in 1858.[1] In 1919, the British gained control of most of Tanganyikan territory, following a League of Nations mandate that ended the period of German colonial administration that had started in 1884. On 9 December 1961, Tanganyika (1961–1964) gained Independence, and Julius Nyerere, University of Edinburgh alumni and leader of the Tanganyika African National Union, was appointed President. [2]

Tanganyika and Zanzibar would merge in 1964, forming the United Republic of Tanzania. Tanzania remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, following Tanganyika’s admittance in 1961.[3]

Trade

Tanzanian exports to the United Kingdom are dominated by raw materials such as tea, tobacco and precious stones. The United Kingdom is the largest non-African purchaser of Tanzanian tea.[4] On the other hand, UK exports to Tanzania are mainly dominated by automobiles and electronic appliances.[5]

Trade Statistics

Trade Value in UK £ Million[6]
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total Trade 460 465 442 333 339 336 198 233 184 323
Exports from UK to Tanzania 272 287 290 214 195 171 161 139 164 275
Imports to UK from Tanzania 188 178 152 119 144 165 37 94 20 48
Department for Business and Trade as of 1 August 2023

Foreign Direct Investment

Being the former colonial power, the United Kingdom is one of Tanzania's oldest trading partners. In 2021 the United Kingdom ranked fourth for foreign direct investment into Tanzania behind the Cayman Islands, China and Canada.[7] Foreign investment in the country is spread out across multiple sectors, such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture. The only British firm listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange was Acacia Mining before its delisting on 18 November 2019.[8]

Tourism

The United Kingdom is one of the top contributors of tourism to Tanzania, with 60,116 arrivals being recorded in 2022.[9]

British Airways previously operated direct flights between London and Dar es Salaam, but flights were suspended on 31 March 2013 after 82 years of operations due to a lack of profitability.[10][11]

Education

UK Official Development Assistance has funded the Shule Bola Initiative, an £89 million programme which aims to improve learning outcomes for over 4 million children in Tanzania. Launched in 2022, the programme places particular emphasis on girls, the disabled and those living in deprived areas.[12]

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides funding for the Chevening Scholarship programme in Tanzania.[13]

Resident diplomatic missions


  • High Commission of Tanzania in London
    High Commission of Tanzania in London
  • High Commission of the United Kingdom in Dar es Salaam
    High Commission of the United Kingdom in Dar es Salaam

References

  1. ^ David Livingstone (2008). The Last Journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa from 1865 to His Death. Vol. 1. BiblioBazaar. p. 338. ISBN 978-0-554-26021-1.Daniel J. Crowley (Summer 1966). "An African Aesthetic". The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. 24 (4). Wiley: 519–524. doi:10.2307/428776. JSTOR 428776.
  2. ^ "Julius Kambarage Nyerere". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  3. ^ "United Republic of Tanzania". The Commonwealth. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Export destinations of Tea from Tanzania (2013)". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  5. ^ "Products that Tanzania imports from the United Kingdom (2013)". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Trade and Investments Factsheets: Tanzania" (PDF). gov.uk/. Government of UK, p.5. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Tanzania Investment Report 2022, p.26" (PDF). bot.tz.org. Bank of Tanzania. 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Acacia to delist from the Dar es Salaam stock exchange today". www.thecitizen.co.tz. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Tanzania Tourism". www.tanzaniainvest.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  10. ^ "British Airways pulls flight services to Tanzania". www.eturbonews.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  11. ^ "BA suspends flights to Dar-es-Salaam". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  12. ^ "UK launches £89 million Shule Bora education initiative in Tanzania". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Chevening in Tanzania". wwww.chevening.org. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  14. ^ High Commission of Tanzania in the United Kingdom
  15. ^ High Commission of the United Kingdom in Tanzania
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