DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is on a three-day state visit to Russia, where she met with President Vladimir Putin and sought to strengthen trade, investment, and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The visit marks the first trip by a Tanzanian head of state to Moscow since 1969, when founding president Julius Nyerere visited the Soviet Union.
Hassan traveled with a delegation of Tanzanian business leaders seeking agreements in trade, tourism, and the minerals sector. Trade between Tanzania and Russia currently totals about $307 million annually, while the newly established Russia-Tanzania Business Council aims to expand economic cooperation. Air Tanzania has also announced plans to launch direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Moscow by the end of 2026.
During the visit, Hassan is scheduled to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and receive an honorary degree from Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in recognition of her diplomatic contributions.
Analysts said the visit reflects Tanzania’s policy of nonalignment and its effort to expand international partnerships. They also noted that Russia has sought to strengthen relations with African countries through trade, diplomatic engagement, and multilateral forums in recent years.
The visit comes amid strained relations between Tanzania and several Western countries following the country’s 2025 elections. Western governments and rights groups have accused Tanzanian authorities of abuses during election-related unrest. A Tanzanian government report said 518 people died during the violence but did not identify those responsible.
Following the unrest, the European Union reportedly froze €156 million in development funding to Tanzania. The administration of Marco Rubio also reviewed bilateral relations with Tanzania and imposed sanctions on Tanzanian police official Faustine Jackson Mafwele over alleged human rights violations.
Hassan’s government has not publicly condemned the crackdown allegations and continues to pursue diplomatic and economic partnerships with a range of international partners, including Russia.
