After a disputed election strained relations with the US and EU, Tanzania is betting on Russia for $2 billion in investment deals

Tanzania is seeking more than $2 billion in Russian investment and business deals over the next three to five years as it deepens ties with Moscow following a disputed election that drew criticism from the United States, the European Union, Britain, Canada, Norway and the African Union.

• Tanzania is seeking over $2 billion in Russian investments and business deals within the next three to five years to reduce reliance on Western partners.
• President Samia Suluhu Hassan made the first Tanzanian state visit to Russia in 57 years and participated in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
• Tanzania's pivot toward Russia comes after Western countries expressed grave concerns and imposed pressures following Tanzania's disputed 2025 election.
• Despite deepening ties with Russia, Tanzanian officials emphasized they are not abandoning Western partners and will continue to seek diverse international investments.

In a bid to broaden its international partnerships after the disputed October 2025 election strained relations with Western partners, President Samia Suluhu Hassan travelled to Russia for the first state visit by a Tanzanian leader in 57 years.

She also participated in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, where Tanzanian officials held talks with major companies interested in healthcare, mining, energy, agriculture and technology.

The country’s ambassador and director of economic diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, John Ulanga, announced the $2 billion estimate on June 7 during a briefing on the visit.

“Based on the discussions held on trade and investment, we are confident that within the next three to five years, Tanzania will attract investments, and business worth more than $2 billion,” he said.

“This will position Russia among Tanzania's key development partners,” he added.

The projected deals, valued at about Sh5.2 trillion in Tanzania’s local currency, could expand Russia’s economic presence in East Africa while giving Tanzania access to more capital, technology and industrial expertise.

Russia targets Tanzania’s strategic sectors

Healthcare emerged as one of the main areas of potential cooperation, with Russian companies expressing interest in pharmaceutical manufacturing and local vaccine production.

“Russian companies have indicated that within the next five years they can partner with Tanzania to produce up to 20 million vaccine doses locally for both domestic use and regional markets,” Mr Ulanga said.

Local production could reduce Tanzania’s dependence on imported vaccines while creating a supply base for neighbouring African markets.

Russian companies also expressed interest in uranium, nickel and other critical minerals used in energy systems and modern technologies.

The discussions come as international competition for Africa’s strategic minerals intensifies, driven by demand from the clean-energy, electronics, defence and manufacturing industries.

Russian energy companies, including Gazprom, have expressed interest in Tanzania’s oil and gas sector, which requires more capital and infrastructure to develop its natural gas reserves.

The talks also covered agriculture and technology, including agro-processing, value addition and partnerships with Tanzanian start-ups.

Western ties face pressure

Tanzania’s closer engagement with Russia comes after its relations with Western partners deteriorated following the disputed October 29, 2025 elections.

President Hassan was declared the landslide winner, but opposition groups accused the government of fraud and protested the exclusion of her main challengers.

The protests were followed by a security crackdown, reports of deaths and injuries, an internet shutdown and restrictions on political activity.

The US Department of State said the Tanzanian government’s actions had raised “grave concerns about the direction of our bilateral relationship and the reliability of the Tanzanian Government as a partner.”

It said Washington was “comprehensively reviewing” the relationship, citing restrictions on religious freedom and free speech, obstacles to US investment and violence against civilians before and after the elections.

The European Union also expressed concern over “violence, the internet shutdown as well as reports of irregularities in the election process.”

It described reports of fatalities and injuries as being “of extreme concern” and urged Tanzanian authorities to exercise maximum restraint.

The foreign ministers of Britain, Canada and Norway issued a joint statement on October 31 expressing concern over reports of deaths and injuries linked to the security response to protests.

They urged Tanzanian authorities to exercise restraint and protect freedom of assembly and expression.

The African Union election observation mission also criticised the conduct of the vote.

“At this preliminary stage, the Mission concludes that the 2025 Tanzania General Elections did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections,” the mission said.

The criticism has increased pressure on President Hassan’s government and complicated Tanzania’s access to some traditional sources of development financing.

Tanzania broadens economic partnerships

Tanzania’s closer engagement with Russia forms part of its effort to diversify investment sources and reduce reliance on any single group of partners.

The country’s Minister of State for Planning and Investment, Kitila Mkumbo, said Tanzania would continue pursuing opportunities that support its development priorities.

“As we implement Vision 2050, we must seek investment opportunities across the world. This visit has opened another important door and will contribute to economic growth,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said the visit had placed Tanzania within Russia’s broader push to expand trade and investment ties across Africa.

“The visit has enabled Tanzania to position itself within Russia's wider strategy of expanding cooperation with African countries in trade, investment and development,” he said.

Russia has increased its engagement with African countries in mining, energy, agriculture, education, technology and infrastructure.

Tanzanian officials, however, said closer ties with Moscow did not signal a break with Western partners. The government said it would continue working with countries that support its economic and development goals.