Suluhu Tells Foreign Powers: Tanzania Won’t Be Lectured on Its Internal Affairs

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has delivered one of her strongest messages yet on foreign interference, declaring that no external actor has the authority to dictate the country’s internal affairs. Addressing elders in Dar es Salaam, she said Tanzania would not be intimidated or swayed by what she described as “limited” aid from abroad.

Tension After Aid Suspension and Foreign Criticism

The President’s remarks come as diplomatic tensions rise following a wave of external criticism and the suspension of major aid flows. Suluhu dismissed the notion that Tanzania should alter its governance or security decisions in response to donor threats, insisting that national sovereignty is not subject to negotiation.

She challenged the motivations behind the external pressure, suggesting that development partners often attach political conditions to their assistance, conditions she said Tanzania can no longer accept.

Election Unrest and Accusations of Foreign Meddling

Suluhu tied her statement to the recent post-election unrest, alleging that foreign actors played a role in fanning the violence. She described the events not as spontaneous protests but as a coordinated attempt to destabilize the country. Some individuals arrested in connection with the disturbances, she said, were foreign nationals, reinforcing her claim of external involvement.

Pushing for Self-Reliance and Local Ownership

The President used the moment to reaffirm her government’s direction: reduced dependence on foreign aid and greater emphasis on self-reliance. She highlighted ongoing infrastructure development and increased domestic investment as proof that Tanzania can finance its own progress.

According to Suluhu, reforms, whether political, economic, or constitutional, will only be initiated when Tanzanians themselves decide it is time, not when foreign powers set conditions.

What This Means for East Africa

Her message has sparked conversations across the region, particularly among countries balancing the benefits of development funding with concerns over sovereignty. In East Africa, Suluhu’s comments underscore a growing assertiveness among states seeking to control their own political trajectories without external interference.

Whether the stance will strain Tanzania’s relations with its partners remains to be seen. What is clear is the firmness of her message: Tanzania intends to shape its own destiny.