By Adonis Byemelwa
Havana– President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s upcoming state visit to Cuba on November 6, 2024, marks a decisive step in Tanzania’s diplomatic evolution, signaling a shift from the approach of her predecessor, the late President John Magufuli.
This visit not only emphasizes President Samia’s intent to bolster Tanzania’s international partnerships but also reflects her contrasting stance on diplomacy, particularly her prioritization of international alliances in contrast to Magufuli's more insular approach.
While President Samia is set to strengthen economic, social, and cultural ties in Havana, Magufuli has notably taken a different path in his engagements on the world stage.
For instance, in 2016, Magufuli skipped two African Union (AU) summits, first in Addis Ababa and later in Kigali, opting to send representatives instead of attending personally.
Similarly, he chose not to attend two consecutive Southern African Development Community (SADC) summits, including the 36th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in Mbabane, Swaziland, where regional leaders had gathered to address pressing economic and political issues within southern Africa.
Instead, Magufuli delegated his Vice President, then Samia Suluhu Hassan, to represent Tanzania at this high-level meeting, underscoring his preference for a domestic-centered agenda over direct regional participation.
This approach left some regional observers questioning Tanzania’s commitment to multilateralism and whether these absences carried an implicit message to the SADC and AU leadership. While many heads of state occasionally miss summits due to national emergencies or health reasons, Magufuli’s repeated absences were perceived by some as signaling a message of strategic disengagement.
In contrast, President Samia’s active engagement with the AU and her attendance at multilateral forums reflect her intention to reshape Tanzania’s diplomatic identity.
By embracing international cooperation with Cuba and beyond, she signals a renewed openness to alliances that prioritize Tanzania’s economic growth and global presence—particularly in trade, tourism, education, and healthcare.
Analysts across East Africa suggest that this shift could position Tanzania as a key player in international diplomacy, reshaping its influence across Africa and beyond.
In preparation, Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, chaired a high-level meeting in Havana on Saturday to finalize arrangements, including inspections of key sites such as the International Kiswahili Conference venue and the famed Heroes Park.
The visit will spotlight Tanzania and Cuba’s shared commitment to addressing global challenges, aiming to transform their historical relationship into a strategic partnership with mutual benefits.
President Samia’s itinerary includes a meeting on November 7 with her Cuban counterpart, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the José Martí Memorial, honoring the Cuban national hero. Additionally, she will unveil a statue of the late Tanzanian leader, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, at the Heroes of Africa memorial site in Havana.
The two leaders will also witness the signing of cooperation agreements between Tanzania’s Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Cuba’s Communist Party, reinforcing party-to-party diplomacy.
On November 8, President Samia will inaugurate the International Kiswahili Conference as the guest of honor and jointly launch a Swahili-Spanish dictionary, along with a book on everyday expressions in both languages—a collaborative project between the University of Dar es Salaam and the University of Havana.
This event is part of Tanzania’s diplomatic mission in Cuba, led by Ambassador Humphrey Polepole, to promote Tanzanian culture and the Kiswahili language across the Caribbean and Latin America.
Critics across East Africa view this outreach as a significant opportunity for Tanzania to strengthen its influence globally. Many highlight that for a developing country, such visits open crucial pathways to advance trade, tourism, health, education, and blue economy initiatives while signaling Tanzania’s intent to secure strategic international partnerships that foster sustainable growth.