Relationship dossier
Libya
Tanzania
Relationship assessment
A major confrontation during the 1979 Uganda–Tanzania War, with subsequent bilateral ties unclear
Libya toward Tanzania
-20In 1979, Libya sent forces to support Uganda’s government during its war with Tanzania; Libyan and Tanzanian forces fought one another.
Tanzania toward Libya
-15Tanzanian forces fought Libyan troops who had intervened in Uganda in 1979. The extent of later Tanzanian government cooperation with Libya is unclear.
Overall relationship
-10The relationship’s clearest defining feature is the 1979 military confrontation, when Libyan forces supporting Uganda fought Tanzanian forces. The subsequent bilateral relationship and any durable cooperation are unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Libya’s 1979 military intervention in Uganda brought Libyan forces into combat with Tanzanian forces during the Uganda–Tanzania War. This stands out as a serious episode of confrontation, but the scope and continuity of subsequent bilateral cooperation are unclear.
Areas of tension
- Libyan military intervention in Uganda and combat with Tanzanian forces during the 1979 war
Key developments
Libya sent forces to support Uganda during the Uganda–Tanzania War, and Libyan troops fought Tanzanian forces.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of subsequent Libyan-Tanzanian government cooperation is unclear.
- The longer-term effects of the 1979 conflict on bilateral policy are uncertain.