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Germany and Tanzania aim to strengthen their relations and address their shared colonial past, as agreed upon by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
Hassan described the German government as a “reliable friend and partner,” although she highlighted potential for growth in areas such as trade and investments.
The governments have maintained good cooperation with each other for 60 years.
Steinmeier emphasized the importance of addressing Germany’s colonial history in East Africa, marked by oppression, exploitation, and atrocities, stating: “It is important to me that we work on this dark chapter together.”
Hassan, who has been in office for two and a half years, is the only head of state with executive powers on the African continent.
The 63-year-old is seen as a hopeful figure from Berlin’s perspective. She has taken a more liberal approach, reversing many of the autocratic policies of her predecessor, John Magufuli, including lifting the long-standing ban on demonstrations, restoring newspapers’ licenses and releasing imprisoned opposition leaders.
However, human rights organizations like Amnesty International note that significant deficiencies, such as limitations on press and freedom of assembly, still exist in Tanzania.
The country is considered politically stable and has one of the strongest economies in sub-Saharan Africa. It is expected to achieve a 4.9% economic growth rate for the current year, a figure well above that of Germany.
