Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. The Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Tel Aviv is working closely with the government of Israel to complete the repatriation of Tanzanian agricultural intern Joshua Loitu Mollel, who was confirmed dead after being taken hostage during the October 7, 2023, attacks in Gaza.

A public notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation shows that on Friday, November 7, 2025, Israeli authorities confirmed that the human remains recently handed over from Gaza belong to the Tanzanian students, bringing an end to months of uncertainty for his family and the nation. The Ministry says the embassy is coordinating the final procedures to ensure Mollel’s remains are returned home for a dignified burial.

“The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, is closely coordinating with the family to facilitate the reception of the body and ensure an honourable burial for our young compatriot,” reads part of the public notice. The confirmation marks a solemn yet relieving moment for Mollel’s family, who had been waiting for news since his disappearance.

Mollel, 21, was one of two Tanzanian nationals working as agricultural interns in Israel when the Hamas attacks occurred. He was killed during the assault, and his body was taken into Gaza.

The Ministry described the confirmation as “good news that brings great relief to the family and the nation at large,” while reiterating its condolences to the Mollel family and all Tanzanians affected by the tragedy. Mollel’s death underscores the far-reaching impact of the IsraelHamas conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced many more since the October 7, 2023, attacks.

Further details on the arrival of the body remains and subsequent funeral arrangements are expected to be announced once the repatriation process is finalised. Reports show Mollel arrived in Israel as an agricultural intern at Kibbutz Nahal Oz just 19 days before October 7, 2023, on his first trip outside Tanzania, full of excitement to advance his career.

During the attack led by Hamas, Mollel was working in the kibbutz’s barn. On December 13, 2023, his father was officially notified of his death by Israeli authorities.

The human rights organisation Hotline for Refugees and Migrants reported that 36 Tanzanian agricultural interns were living in Israel near Gaza at the time of the attack. .

Dar es Salaam. A new experimental malaria vaccine known as SUM-101 has produced encouraging findings in its first trial among Tanzanian adults previously exposed to malaria.

The study, led by researchers Aina-ekisha Kahatano and Maxmillian Mpina of the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), shows the vaccine is safe, well-tolerated, and capable of triggering a strong immune response, marking a significant advance in global malaria research. According to the researchers, SUM-101 could play an important role in improving next-generation malaria vaccines, complementing existing ones such as RTS and R21, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved but which offer only partial protection.

Despite major gains in prevention and control, malaria continues to take a heavy toll, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it remains a leading cause of illness and death, with Tanzania recording millions of cases annually. A more effective vaccine that targets multiple stages of the malaria parasite could sharply increase protection levels.

Lead co-authors Kahatano and Mpina said the new findings point to strong potential for improving malaria vaccine performance, especially in high-transmission settings. “This study adds evidence that combining vaccines targeting both the blood stage and early stages of the parasite can deliver broader and longer-lasting protection,” said Kahatano.

The clinical trial was conducted in Bagamoyo and involved 40 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 living in moderate-transmission areas. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one received the SUM-101 vaccine, while the control group received a standard rabies vaccine.

Presenting the results, Kahatano said no serious adverse effects were recorded, noting that most reactions were mild and temporary, including slight pain at the injection site, headaches, or brief fatigue. “There was a strong immune response.

SUM-101 generated high levels of antibodies, IgG, and IgM, that peaked around day 84 and remained elevated for months,” he explained. He said the antibodies produced were capable of recognising and neutralising a range of malaria parasite strains, noting that the vaccine also appeared to enhance natural immunity.

“People who already had some level of natural immunity to malaria showed a stronger response after vaccination,” he said. Researchers overseeing the trial, Dr Ally Olotu of IHI and Dr Claudia Daubenberger of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, said SUM-101 not only proved safe but also boosted the body’s natural defences against malaria.

The study was undertaken jointly by experts from the Ifakara Health Institute, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, the University of Basel, Sumaya Biotech GmbH and Co. KG of Germany, and the University Hospital of Heidelberg.

Partial funding was provided by Sumaya Biotech GmbH and Co. KG through support from the EU Malaria Fund in Berlin.

Co-author Mpina said the team believes the findings set the stage for larger trials to test the vaccine’s efficacy among wider populations, including children, who remain the most vulnerable group. “We are hopeful that this vaccine could become part of a new generation of malaria vaccines that are safer, more potent, and capable of saving millions of lives,” he said.

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Dar es Salaam. Ten years after the historic Paris Agreement was adopted, global leaders are warning that despite notable climate progress, the world is failing to curb the rising loss and damage already devastating vulnerable communities.

Speaking in Belem, Brazil, on Friday, November 7, 2025, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the clean-energy transition is advancing “at lightning speed”, but not fast enough to protect countries from worsening climate-related destruction. “Even if new national commitments are fully implemented, the world is still heading for clearly more than 2 degrees of warming.

That means more floods, more heat, more suffering everywhere,” he said. Scientists have cautioned that the 1.

5C threshold could be breached as early as the early 2030s. The longer the world stays above this limit, the more extreme events will intensify, destroying farms, displacing families, and draining national budgets struggling to rebuild after repeated shocks.

These impacts are already translating into irreversible loss and damage for the poorest nations. Guterres stressed that a just energy transition must protect people on the frontlines, especially those whose livelihoods depend on fossil fuels.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell. “Put people and equity at the centre of the transition,” he urged, calling for training, social protection, and new economic opportunities, particularly for youth and women.

He also emphasised the urgent need to unlock affordable financing for developing nations, noting that Africa currently receives just two percent of global clean-energy investment, despite being among the regions experiencing the most severe loss and damage from climate-driven disasters. “The fossil fuel age is ending.

Clean energy is rising. Let us make the transition fair, fast, and final,” declared Guterres.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell echoed these concerns, reminding nations that while the Paris Agreement “bent the curve” of global heating from a catastrophic 5C to below 3C, “this is still perilous” as climate impacts intensify across all regions. “History will not ask what we intended.

It will ask what we achieved,” said Stiell, urging countries to submit stronger Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) backed by real financial resources to shield those most exposed to climate harm. Stiell noted evidence that climate cooperation is working: 90 percent of new power capacity added last year was renewable, and $2 trillion (Sh5,000 trillion) was invested in clean energy, double the amount flowing to fossil fuels.

Yet he warned that nations bearing the brunt of droughts, cyclones, floods, and rising seas still face major challenges in accessing finance to protect lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods. “We all know that plans without finance cannot reach their full potential.

Finance is the great accelerator,” he said. He stressed that the Baku to Belem Roadmap must transform current climate finance from $300 billion (Sh750 trillion) a year to $1.3 trillion (Sh3,250 trillion) by 2035 to meet global needs.

He emphasised that climate finance is not charity but “an investment in stability and prosperity”, particularly as the cost of inaction is already visible through escalating loss and damage in vulnerable nations. Both leaders insisted that without fair access to finance, technology, and investment, climate impacts will continue to trap developing nations in cycles of loss, debt, and delayed recovery.

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TUNIS. Jailed Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, 84, began a hunger strike, joining two prominent politicians who are protesting what they call “unjust imprisonment,” lawyers said on Saturday, marking the latest escalation in a standoff with President Kais Saied.

Most of the country’s opposition leaders are in jail and some parties have accused Saied of turning Tunisia into an “open-air prison” while using the judiciary to cement his authoritarian rule. Ghannouchi follows opposition politician Jawhar Ben Mbarek who has been on a “wildcat” hunger strike since last week.

And Republican Party leader Issam Chebbi started a hunger strike on Friday, demanding his release. Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda party and a fierce critic of Saied, has been detained since 2023 and was sentenced to 37 years in prison across multiple cases, including illicit foreign financing and conspiracy against the state.

He has refused to appear in court, saying he won’t face judges who only follow Saied’s orders. Lawyers, family, and rights groups say Ben Mbarek’s health has sharply deteriorated, he is refusing treatment and is at risk of dying.

The Tunisian Prisons Authority denied that the prisoners’ health had deteriorated due to the hunger strikes, saying medical examinations showed conditions were “normal and stable,” without giving additional details. This year, courts handed prison sentences ranging from five to 66 years to opposition leaders including Ben Mbarek and Chebbi on charges including “conspiracy against state security.

” Human rights groups say these prosecutions targeted political opponents. Lawyer Dalila Ben Mbarek said Jawhar informed her that he would soon leave the prison “either free or dead.

” His father said Saied was responsible for any harm that came to his son, calling him a dictator. The opposition says Saied’s sudden closure of the elected parliament in 2021 and his move to rule by decree was a coup.

Saied denied this, saying his actions were necessary to save Tunisia from years of chaos; he has called jailed opposition leaders criminals, traitors and terrorists. .

Dar es Salaam. The release of the 2026 Grammy Awards nominations has reignited a familiar discussion within the Bongo Flava scene: why Tanzanian artistes continue to miss out on global recognition despite their undeniable talent, massive fanbase, and growing influence across Africa.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, will honour music released between August 2024 and August 2025. As expected, the international line-up features global icons, with Kendrick Lamar leading with nine nominations and Lady Gaga following with seven.

For Africa, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda once again dominate the field. Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo, a veteran known for blending traditional sounds with global rhythms, earned his second Grammy nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for his song ‘Hope and Love’, featuring instrumentalist Mehran Matin.

He will compete against Nigeria’s Burna Boy ‘Love’, Davido featuring Omah Lay ‘With You’, Wizkid featuring Ayra Starr ‘Gimme Dat’, as well as South Africa’s Tyla ‘Push 2 Start’, who famously won the same category in 2024. For Tanzanian music, and particularly Bongo Flava, the announcement is a moment of reflection. None of the artistes under Grammy consideration, including Diamond Platnumz, Harmonize, Marioo, Fid Q, AY, and Abby Chams, made it to the final nomination list.

Diamond had been in the running through his collaboration ‘Low=’ with American superstar Ciara, while Harmonize submitted four songs, among them ‘Me Too’ with Abigail Chams, ‘Simuoni’ with AY, and ‘Finally’ with violinist Miri Ben-Ari. Fid Q’s ‘Glory2’, Marioo’s ‘Nairobi’, and AY’s ‘Wanga Neka’ were also under review but did not make the final cut.

The outcome has left many in the industry asking hard questions about what needs to happen for Bongo Flava to break into the Grammy conversation. According to music producer Adili Faustine, Tanzania has the creativity but lacks the strategic vision that Grammy recognition demands.

“Our sound is powerful, but we’re still operating in a local ecosystem,” he said. He added that to compete at the Grammy level, artistes need global packaging from sound engineering and mastering to branding and distribution.

“The Recording Academy listens for global quality,” he shared. Music analyst Josephat Noel says the issue is not the music but the machinery behind it.

“Nigeria and South Africa built bridges early. They have PR firms in London and Los Angeles, global streaming strategies, and record label partnerships.

In Tanzania, we are still building and creating more connections, so I think it’s time to professionalise the business,” he shared. Radio host and cultural analyst Balou Saleh agrees, noting that international recognition requires persistence beyond a single hit.

“Our artistes release powerful songs, but the Grammy process values consistency,” she explained, adding that Tanzanian artistes need to be visible in international conversations. “I’m talking about performing abroad, collaborating strategically, and maintaining relationships with industry players year-round,” she said.

Artiste manager and promoter Jumanne Zungu says the gap also lies in long-term planning. “A Grammy is not won by a single song; it is won by a system.

You need proper management, international agents, publicists, and global distribution networks. Our artistes must start treating every release as a potential global entry, not merely a local success,” he explained.

Following the nominations announcement, the mood across Tanzania’s entertainment circles was mixed. There was pride in seeing East Africa represented by Eddy Kenzo, but also a realisation that Bongo Flava must evolve beyond its current boundaries.

Some industry insiders have suggested that Tanzanian record labels should collaborate more closely with international partners to help their artistes penetrate markets like the US and the UK. With more focused investment in international marketing, industry training, and partnerships, experts believe it is only a matter of time before Tanzania earns its first Grammy nomination.

As the world waits for the 2026 Grammy Awards, the conversation within Tanzania’s music scene continues not with despair, but with renewed urgency. Amid the disappointment, many in the local music community have chosen to celebrate a quieter victory: the fact that more Bongo Flava artistes than ever before were considered for the Grammys, marking an important step in Tanzania’s musical evolution.

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GENEVA. The U.

N. World Food Programme warned on Friday it may have to pause food aid to help millions of malnourished people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by February due to a major funding crisis.

“We’re at historically low levels of funding. We’ve probably received about $150 million this year,” said Cynthia Jones, country director of the WFP for the DRC, pointing to a need for $350 million to help people in desperate need in the West African country.

More than 3.2 million people are facing emergency levels of acute food insecurity in the eastern DRC, characterised by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition, according to a report by a global food monitor released on Tuesday.

The area has been rocked by more than a year of fighting. The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels staged a lightning offensive this year in South Kivu province that allowed them to seize more territory than ever before.

Rwanda has denied supporting the rebels. Both M23 and Congolese forces have been accused of carrying out atrocities.

Previously the WFP was reaching about 1 million people per month with food assistance, but has now had to reduce that number to 600,000 people per month amid dwindling funding. “If we were to continue reaching 600,000 people per month, we would break completely by February, March.

That’s the reality. That’s how dire the situation is,” Jones said.

In recent years the WFP had received up to $600 million in funding. In 2024 it received about $380 million.

U.N.

agencies, including the WFP, have been hit by major cuts in U.S.

foreign aid as well as other major European donors reducing overseas aid budgets to increase defence spending. .

ISABELA, Philippines. The Philippines evacuated over 100,000 residents across its eastern and northern regions as Fung-wong intensified on Sunday into a super typhoon ahead of its expected arrival later in the day, threatening to unleash torrential rains, destructive winds, and storm surges.

Storm alert signals have been hoisted across large parts of the Philippines, with Signal No. 5, the highest warning, raised over southeastern Luzon, including Catanduanes and coastal areas of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, while Metro Manila and surrounding areas are under Signal No.

3. Packing sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts of up to 230 kph, Super Typhoon Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, is forecast to make landfall in Aurora province in central Luzon Sunday night at the earliest.

Parts of Eastern Visayas were already experiencing power outages. Some images shared by the Philippine Coast Guard in Camarines Sur showed evacuees carrying bags and personal belongings as they transferred from long, narrow passenger boats to waiting trucks during preemptive evacuation operations.

300 flights cancelled More than 300 domestic and international flights have been cancelled, according to the civil aviation regulator. A video shared by ABS-CBN News on X showed stormy conditions in Catanduanes province, with an overcast sky, tree branches swaying violently in the wind, and strong rain visibly falling and pounding the area, its intensity audible.

Fung-wong approached the Philippines just days after the country was battered by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed 204 people and left a trail of destruction before slamming into Vietnam, where it claimed five more lives and devastated coastal communities. In the fishing village of Vung Cheo in central Vietnam, fishing vessels were seen piled up in wrecks along the main road on Saturday, where hundreds of lobster farms had been washed away or damaged.

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Dar/Upcountry. A week after the Tanzania General Election, results announced by election supervisors in different constituencies following the October 29, 2025, voting show that the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has emerged victorious in most constituencies nationwide.

The delay in releasing results was due to internet shutdowns, which disrupted the timely transmission and publication of election information, including vote tallies. The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, followed up with election supervisors across the country to identify the winning parliamentary candidates, who are expected to report to Parliament on November 8, 2025, for official registration before commencement of the House sessions.

While CCM captured the majority of constituencies, opposition parties, mainly ACT Wazalendo and Chaumma, secured a few seats and will represent those areas in Parliament. Mara Region CCM won all 10 constituencies.

In Musoma Urban: Mgore Miraji (CCM) 14,555; Angela Lima (Chaumma) 3,762; Omar Mohamed (CUF) 119; Julius Matto (DP) 50; Salome Alex (UDP) 33; Hassan Ogolla (Makini) 32; Christina Ndego (SAU) 112; Michael Gabriel (UMD) 23; Geneviva Mechele (AAFP) 141; John Kaseleka (ACT Wazalendo) 343. In Serengeti: Mary Daniel (CCM) 182,562; Catherine Ruge (Chaumma) 5,711, while in Bunda Urban: Ester Bulaya (CCM) 83,908; Jeremiah Lameck (AAFP) 1,233; Edward Saramba (CUF) 1,367; Manga Wanjala (NLD) 919. In Rorya: Jafari Chege (CCM) 165,660; Dady Midumbi (ACT Wazalendo) 3,177; Sospeter Rutaga (AAFP) 1,282, while in Musoma Rural: Prof Sospeter Muhongo (CCM) 50,847; Magina Ng’aranga (ACT Wazalendo) 12,171; Barnabas Mafuru (CCK) 458; Kuleba Bwire (CUF) 428; Lukresia Girimba (UPDP) 349. In Tarime Rural: Mr Mwita Waitara (CCM) 165,341; Mr Charles Mwera (ACT Wazalendo) 8,519. While in Mwibara: Mr Kangi Lugola (CCM) 30,646; Cyprian Musiba (ACT) 7,723; John Magafu (CUF) 2,114; Day Kalyanyama (DP) 108; Thomas Mgaywa (NCCR) 192. While, Bunda: Boniphace Getere (CCM) 22,393; Maxmilian Madoro (ADC) 7,237; Kastam Chagonga (Chaumma) 366, in Butiama: Dr Wilson Mahera (CCM) 112,876; Verena Charles (Chaumma) 1,632. In Tarime Urban: Ester Matiko (CCM) 52,369; Mzarifu Ryoba (Chaumma) 4,831, while in Songwe, Mbeya and Songwe CCM emerged victorious in all constituencies as follows. Names of candidates and respective votes garnered in Songwe constituencies in brackets are: Philipo Mulugo (116,735); Japhet Hasunga (Vwawa) 126,945; Onesmo Mkondya (Mbozi) 124,204; David Silinde (Tunduma) 116,258; Kondesta Sichalwe (Momba) 117,521; and Godfrey Kasekenya (Ileje) 71,150. In Mbeya: Dr.

Tulia Ackson (Uyole), Patrick Mwalunenge (Mbeya Urban), Baraka Mwamengo (Kyela), Lutengano Mwalwiba (Busokelo), Anthony Mwantona (Rungwe), Bahati Ndingo (Mbarali), Patali Patali (Mbeya Rural). In Njombe: Joseph Kamonga (Ludewa-80,419); Deo Mwanyika (Njombe Urban-77,617); Daniel Chongolo (Makambako-72,894); Festo Dugange (Wanging’ombe-107,491); Edwin Swalle (Lupembe-50,637); and Festo Sanga (Makete-66,717).

In Mwanza, CCM won all constituencies: Nyamagana: John Nzilanyingi (381,295); Ilemela: Kafiti William; Buchosa: Eric Shigongo (215,720); Sengerema: Hamis Tabasam (198,830); Ukerewe: Dr Sweetbert Mkama (186,879); Magu: Boniventura Kiswaga; Sumve: Moses Bujaga (87,648); Kwimba: Cosmas Bulala (117,724); and Silvery Luboja (Misungwi). In Shinyanga Region, Kahama Urban: Ngaiwa Benjamin (253,112); Msalala: Magangila Mabula (186,316); and Ushetu: Emmanuel Charahani (200,349).

In Kilimanjaro Region: Rombo: Prof Adolf Mkenda (96,815); Hai: Saashisha Mafuwe (106,774); Vunjo Rural: Enock Koola (108,083); Moshi Rural: Moris Makoi (82,160); Mwanga: Dr Ngwaru Maghembe (70,037); Same West: Dr Mathayo David Mathayo (85,960); and Same East: Anne Kilango (68,630). In Manyara: Kiteto: Edward Ole Lekaita (186,283); Babati Urban: Emmanuel Khambay (37,520); Mbulu Rural: Emmanuel Nuwas (118,665); Hanang: Asia Halamga (173,333), and Simanjiro: James Ole Millya (150,665).

In Arusha Region: Isack Joseph (Monduli), Daniel Awakii (Karatu), Paul Makonda (Arusha Urban), Yannick Ndonyo (Ngorongoro), Dr Steven Kiruswa (Longido). In Ruvuma, the opposition ACT-Wazalendo candidate Ado Shaibu won the Tunduru North constituency (80,282), with the remaining captured by CCM, including Tunduru South, where Mr Fadhili Chilombe collected 63,417 and Omary Msigwa, who garnered 43,689 in the Madaba constituency.

In Kagera Region, Ngara Constituency: Dotto Jasson Bahemu (CCM) 171,149 votes. .

Dar es Salaam. The Kingdom of Morocco has stated that its pursuit of resolving the Sahara dispute through autonomy demonstrates that decolonisation can be achieved through development-driven sovereignty rather than a perpetual deadlock.

Morocco’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Zakaria El Goumiri, made the remarks in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, November 8, 2025, during a phone interview with The Citizen. He was speaking as Morocco marked a dual milestone: half a century since the historic Green March of 1975 and seven decades since gaining independence from French and Spanish protectorates in 1956. Ambassador El Goumiri highlighted the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) recent adoption of Resolution 2797/2025, which, for the first time in a binding text, recognised Morocco’s autonomy proposal as “the only” credible basis for a lasting solution to the Sahara conflict.

“Why is this milestone so significant? For more than half a century, this ‘artificial’ conflict, stemming from colonial withdrawal and regional geopolitics, has impeded full Maghreb integration and diverted Africa’s attention from joint development,” he said. “By securing international recognition for its autonomy plan, Morocco aims to turn the page, prioritise development across its territory and revitalise regional cooperation,” he added.

In the resolution adopted on October 31, 2025 the UNSC stated that genuine autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty could represent the most viable resolution to Rabat’s 50-year dispute with the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. Western Sahara, a desert region roughly the size of Britain, has been Africa’s longest-running territorial dispute since Spain withdrew in 1975. The UNSC, through a US-drafted text, called on parties to negotiate based on Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan.

Morocco claims the territory as its own, while the Polisario Front seeks an independent state, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. “We urge all parties to engage in serious discussions in the coming weeks,” US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told the council after the vote, adding that regional peace is possible this year, and we will make every effort to facilitate progress.

Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained, while Algeria did not vote. The remaining 11 council members approved the resolution, which also renewed for one year the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Western Sahara, MINURSO.

Ambassador El Goumiri said the moment is ripe not only for reflection but for bold affirmation: Morocco is emerging as a key actor in Africa’s security, sovereignty, and integration. “It is reclaiming its role as a catalyst for peace, development, and a united Maghreb,” he said.

Quoting King Mohammed VI in his address to the nation following the resolution, the Ambassador said: “After 50 years of sacrifices, and with the guidance of God Almighty, we are entering a new chapter to consolidate the Moroccanness of the Sahara and close, once and for all, this fabricated conflict through a consensual solution based on the Autonomy Initiative.” The Ambassador added that by highlighting Morocco’s historical role in African independence and its current development surge, the Kingdom positions itself as a key partner in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), continental infrastructure corridors, and South-South cooperation.

“The success of this region could serve as a model of how territorial sovereignty, strategic economic investment, and regional integration can transform former margins into continental hubs,” he said. “Today, Morocco’s southern provinces, including Laayoune and Dakhla, are no longer frontier regions but gateways.

Their development reinforce Morocco as a regional and continental hub for logistics, energy, and human capital,” he added. On the country’s transformation under King Mohammed VI, the envoy said Morocco has implemented sweeping reforms across political, economic, social, and infrastructural sectors over the past 26 years.

“From launching the ‘New Development Model’ in the southern provinces to investing in major ports, renewable energy, and connectivity, the Kingdom has sought to convert sovereignty into prosperity,” he said. He highlighted Morocco’s solidarity with Africa.

“As Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Omar Hilale, noted, the Saharan provinces are central to three major Royal initiatives: the Royal Atlantic Initiative, the NigeriaMorocco Gas Pipeline, and the Sahel Initiative.” “These projects allow the provinces to connect Africa to the world and promote continental integration,” he added.

Morocco’s role in continental liberation Ambassador El Goumiri emphasised that, beyond national achievements, Morocco has long been a partner in Africa’s liberation and development. He said the Kingdom’s diplomatic and material support to numerous African independence movements has been recognised by its continental peers.

“Morocco provided logistical, political, and military assistance to liberation movements in Algeria, Guinea-Bissau, and other countries,” he said. He added that during the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, Moroccan territory offered a haven and training for African National Congress (ANC) activists.

He said the Algerian Liberation Army headquarters was in Rabat, with training camps near Oujda. “This is where, according to multiple testimonies, Nelson Mandela received military training,” he said.

“In this way, Morocco not only secured its own independence and territorial integrity but also contributed quietly yet tangibly to the freedom of others across the continent,” he added. The Green March, independence, and a United Maghreb The envoy said Morocco this year celebrates the 70th anniversary of asserting its sovereignty after overcoming the colonial protectorate system.

He said the country marks the formal end of the French protectorate on March 2, 1956, while independence is commemorated on November 18, the day King Mohammed V returned from exile and national unity was restored. The Green March of November 6, 1975, remains a landmark: some 350,000 Moroccan volunteers, carrying the Holy Qur’an and national flags, peacefully entered the then-Spanish Sahara to reclaim Morocco’s “Southern Provinces.

” “The event did more than reclaim territory; it symbolised Morocco’s commitment to achieving territorial integrity and development through peaceful means. As the late King Hassan II said: ‘We must act as one to join the Sahara,'” he said.

“Today, Morocco commemorates ’50 Years after the Green March’ and emphasises that its southern provinces have become a model of stability and growth,” he added. What future holds? The envoy said that as Morocco marks 70 years of independence and 50 years since the Glorious Green March, celebration alone is insufficient.

“The Kingdom now leverages its historical achievements for a forward-looking vision: where southern provinces are engines of development, the autonomy plan is a framework for governance, Africa-solidarity is operational, and the Maghreb is united rather than fragmented,” he said. According to Ambassador El Goumiri, Morocco invites Africans, Arabs, and global partners to join it, from the Atlantic, across the Sahara, into the Sahel, and beyond.

The story is no longer solely about reclaiming what was lost; it is about building what must be shared. .

Dar es Salaam. The implementation of a harmonised regional roaming policy by the East African Community (EAC) has significantly reduced the cost of cross-border communication, making it much cheaper for Tanzanians to call within the region.

The latest statistics from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) in its Communications Statistics Report for JulySeptember 2025 shows that Tanzania’s international voice traffic recorded a mixed performance during the quarter ending September 2025, with outbound calls falling by eight percent, while inbound traffic rose by nine percent. The report reveals that the cost of calling East African countries has dropped sharply to Sh247.52 per minute, compared with Sh597.40 per minute four years ago.

Meanwhile, calls to the Rest of the World (RoW) rose slightly to Sh2,315.82 per minute, up from Sh2,175.15. TCRA attributes the decline in regional call tariffs to the EAC’s harmonised roaming framework, which seeks to create a “One Network Area” allowing citizens to communicate across borders at lower costs. The policy has made regional communication more affordable for individuals, businesses, and travellers, fostering stronger economic and social integration within East Africa.

Despite the drop in outbound international calls, the TCRA Communications Statistics Report for JulySeptember 2025 notes that Tanzania continues to generate more voice traffic to international destinations than it receives from abroad. This trend highlights the country’s sustained demand for international connectivity, particularly among businesses, travellers, and the diaspora.

The report shows that total voice traffic to and from East Africa (EA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Rest of the World (RoW) remained robust, reflecting steady engagement between Tanzania and its regional and global partners. Overall, international outgoing voice traffic fell from 159.4 million minutes in June to 146.2 million minutes in September, while incoming traffic rose from 39.8 million minutes to 43.4 million minutes over the same period.

Breaking down the figures, traffic to East Africa declined from 51.65 million minutes to 46.47 million, while incoming traffic from the region increased to 39.34 million minutes. Traffic to SADC countries fell from 206,623 minutes to 88,134, and to the Rest of the World, it dropped from 862,176 minutes to 738,282. Industry analysts suggest the decline in outbound traffic may be partly due to the growing use of internet-based communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, which provide cost-effective alternatives to traditional voice calls.

Conversely, the rise in inbound traffic points to growing global interest in Tanzania’s communication networks, driven by the nation’s expanding economy, trade partnerships, and diaspora links. Commenting on the findings, TCRA director general, Dr Jabir Bakari, said the communications sector continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, playing a key role in advancing Tanzania’s digital transformation and socio-economic development.

“Overall, the quarter’s performance reaffirms the strong momentum toward a more connected, inclusive, and digitally empowered Tanzania,” said Dr Bakari. “TCRA remains committed to facilitating an enabling environment that supports infrastructure investment, innovation, and the sustainable growth of the communications ecosystem in line with national development priorities and the vision of a digital economy,” he added.

Commenting on the report, Rwandan East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) legislator, Mr Clement Musangabatware, said the reduction in costs reflects a deeper level of regional integration in the communications sector. He said it indicates that EAC member states are progressively harmonising telecom policies and reducing barriers to cross-border communication.

Furthermore, he said, citizens, businesses, and institutions across the region are beginning to experience the tangible benefits of integration, not only in trade and movement but also in daily life and connectivity. “Lower call rates across borders mean stronger people-to-people ties, as families, students, and workers can communicate more easily.

They also translate into cheaper business communication, which enhances regional trade efficiency and collaboration,” he said. He added that reduced call rates encourage more frequent communication among East Africans, from students studying within the region to cross-border traders and migrant workers.

According to him, this increased interaction nurtures a shared sense of identity and belonging, crucial to advancing Pan-Africanism and realising the EAC’s vision of “One People, One Destiny.” He said affordable communication allows businesses to coordinate supply chains, logistics, and customer relations more effectively across borders.

“Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the EAC economy, benefit significantly from lower operational costs and improved competitiveness in the regional market,” he stressed. Lower telecom costs align with the EAC Common Market Protocol, promoting free movement of goods, services, labour, and capital.

They also advance the region’s digital transformation agenda by fostering cross-border e-commerce, fintech growth, and innovation ecosystems. .