Relationship dossier
South Africa
Tanzania
Relationship assessment
A cooperative relationship shaped by liberation-era solidarity and bilateral engagement
South Africa toward Tanzania
+35South Africa has engaged Tanzania through bilateral mechanisms, including a bilateral commission, and has pursued agreements and cooperation in areas such as trade and investment.
Tanzania toward South Africa
+45Tanzania supported the African National Congress and the wider anti-apartheid struggle, providing a significant foundation for relations with South Africa. The two governments have also maintained bilateral cooperation through joint mechanisms.
Overall relationship
+40The relationship has a durable cooperative foundation in Tanzania’s support for the South African liberation struggle, complemented by bilateral engagement and cooperation mechanisms after apartheid. No major bilateral dispute is identified in this assessment; the extent and results of current sectoral cooperation remain 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
South Africa and Tanzania have a cooperative relationship shaped by Tanzania’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle and continuing bilateral engagement. The two governments have pursued cooperation through a bilateral commission and agreements covering areas such as trade and investment. The relationship appears positive, though the scope and implementation of recent cooperation are unclear.
Key developments
Tanzania supported the African National Congress and other liberation movements during the struggle against apartheid.
The two governments established a bilateral commission to advance cooperation.
South Africa and Tanzania pursued bilateral agreements and cooperation in areas including trade and investment.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral commission commitments are unclear.
- Details of recent cooperation across individual sectors are limited.