More information about Tanzania is available on the Tanzania Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-TANZANIA RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Tanzania (then-Tanganyika) in 1961. The United States and Tanzania have an established partnership characterized by mutual respect, shared values, and aspirations for a more peaceful and prosperous future. Following national elections in 2015, John Magufuli became Tanzania’s fifth President in a peaceful transition of power. A decision to annul the parallel elections in the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago, however, led to a political crisis that strained relations with the United States and other international partners. New elections in Zanzibar in 2016 were neither inclusive nor representative. President Magufuli’s platform is focused on addressing rampant corruption and government inaction, but the country has also experienced a shrinking of democratic space. The United States remains committed to strengthening democracy in Tanzania and working with Tanzania on women’s and children’s health, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and food security, economic growth, energy, sustainable development, and security.

Several exchange programs welcome Tanzanians to the United States, including through the Fulbright Program, Hubert Humphrey Fellowship, and Young African Leaders Initiative, amongst others. Short term exchanges, small grants, and other public outreach programs support the development of artists, journalists, writers, civil servants, young leaders, musicians, and students. The Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation program has provided funding for several restoration projects since 2002, including the historic ruins at Kilwa Kisiwani and two mosques and an Anglican Church in Zanzibar.

U.S. Assistance to Tanzania

The United States has provided development assistance to Tanzania for capacity building to promote democratic governance, address health and education issues, and promote broad-based economic growth, and advance regional and domestic security to sustain progress.

• The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supports national, international, and civil society organizations in Tanzania in the areas of HIV and AIDS care and treatment, prevention, impact mitigation, and health systems strengthening.
• The President’s Malaria Initiative is an expansion of U.S. Government resources to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality in 19 African countries, including Tanzania.
• The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is providing assistance to build law enforcement capacity in Tanzania to combat wildlife trafficking.
• The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided funding to empower women and youth and improve public health, economic growth, democratic governance, basic education, and biodiversity conservation and natural resource management.
• Feed the Future has provided funding to boost agricultural growth and productivity, promote market development and trade expansion along with equitable rural economic growth, invest in global innovation and research, and address mother and child malnutrition.
• Power Africa is supporting the Tanzania’s efforts to advance private-sector energy transactions and help the government adopt and implement the policy and regulatory reforms necessary to attract private investment in the energy and power sectors.
• The U.S. Let Girls Learn initiative has provided funding in Tanzania to increase school enrollment and retention of adolescent girls and improve community perceptions about the value of educating girls.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention helps the United States to implement PEPFAR and assists the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children in responding to emerging public health threats and infectious disease outbreaks; training and capacity building for healthcare workers; and strengthening research, health technology, and epidemiological data systems.
• The Partnership for Growth economic development initiative seeks to accelerate and sustain broad-based economic growth through engaging government, the private sector, and civil society to unlock new sources of investment, including domestic resources and foreign direct investment in the areas of energy and rural roads.
• Peace Corps volunteers serve in Tanzania as math and science teachers in secondary schools, teacher trainers in information and communication technology, leaders of health education projects that increase basic health knowledge and improve health attitudes and behaviors, and leaders of environmental projects addressing basic village-level needs for sustaining natural resources.
• In 2013 the Millennium Challenge Corporation completed a five-year compact which addressed critical transport, energy, and water infrastructure needs. Process towards a second Compact was halted in early 2016 following the Zanzibar election annulment and other governance concerns.

Military-to-Military Relations

Military-to-military ties between the U.S. and Tanzania in recent years have expanded and deepened to include capacity-building and training in coastal water surveillance, international peacekeeping, military health and humanitarian projects. The U.S. military also assists with capacity building to counter illicit trade, including the trafficking of wildlife. Notably, U.S. Africa Command, in collaboration with other U.S. agencies, has supported the U.S.-Tanzania Canine Detection Program, an elite unit of U.S. Customs and Border Protection-trained Tanzanian Police Force handlers who work to detect ivory and narcotics at Tanzania’s ports of entry.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Tanzania's exports to the United States are dominated by agricultural commodities, minerals, and textiles while imports from the United States include wheat, agricultural/transport equipment, chemicals, used clothes, and machinery. Tanzania is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The United States has a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with a regional organization to which Tanzania belongs--the East African Community.

Tanzania's Membership in International Organizations

Tanzania and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation

The position of U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania is currently vacant; the Chargé d’Affaires is Virginia Blaser. Other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Tanzania maintains an embassy in the United States at 1232 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037 (tel. 202-884-1080).

More information about Tanzania is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Tanzania Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Tanzania Page
U.S. Embassy: Tanzania
USAID Tanzania Page
History of U.S. Relations With Tanzania
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Travel and Business Information