Dar-es-Salaam, 18 October 2023 (TDI): The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, confirmed that the Danish Embassy in Tanzania will remain operational, reversing the decision made in August 2021 to close the embassy by 2024.
The announcement was made during a meeting with Tanzania’s Foreign Minister, January Makamba.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of global partnerships in addressing common challenges such as conflict, displacement, unemployment, poverty, climate change, and food and energy crises.
He stated, “Denmark and Tanzania might be 7,000 km apart, but our cooperation is deeply rooted.”
Denmark and Tanzania’s partnerships have a long history of 60 years.
Throughout this longstanding collaboration, Denmark has played a crucial role in supporting national and local development, strengthening institutions, and ensuring access to quality health services, education, and water.
Job creation has been a pivotal aspect of Denmark’s work, providing farmers with access to finance and agricultural services. The Danida development partnership with Tanzania stands as Denmark’s largest ever.
Dan Jorgensen expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It is indeed a happy day. We can be immensely proud of the results we have achieved together over the years.
He expressed his interest in exploring new areas of mutual interest, including climate adaptation, green transition, and peace and security.
The decision follows discussions held in October between Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister, January Makamba, and his Danish counterpart in Algiers, Algeria.
Makamba welcomed the news, stating, “Denmark will continue its storied 60-year presence in Tanzania. I welcome this news with gratitude and happiness, aware of what it means for the relations between our two countries.”
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Tanzania was the first African country to initiate a long-standing development partnership with Denmark.
The relations between the two nations have been consistently described as strong and amicable, with Denmark being among the top bilateral development partners in Tanzania until now.
The positive reception of this announcement by various Tanzanian figures reflects the shared opinion that maintaining diplomatic ties with Denmark is crucial for the mutual benefit of both nations.
