Dodoma. Tanzania has reaffirmed its long-standing support for the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), with the government insisting that its position remains unchanged.
The assurance was given by Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo during Parliament’s debate on the ministry’s proposed budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
Kombo was responding to concerns raised by Tunduru North MP Ado Shaibu, who sought clarification on Tanzania’s current position regarding SADR and its commitment to the Sahrawi cause.
The minister said Tanzania’s support was recently demonstrated through the participation of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of SADR.
He noted that CCM Secretary-General Ambassador Asha-Rose Migiro attended the event as a representative of both the party and the government, conveying a message that reflected Tanzania’s continued solidarity with the Sahrawi people.
“On Sahrawi, our position remains clear,” Kombo told lawmakers, adding that the message delivered during the anniversary celebrations represented both the government’s and CCM’s official stance.
Earlier in the debate, Shaibu, who has chaired the Tanzania-Sahrawi Solidarity Committee since its establishment in 2015 as a social movement, urged the government not to allow economic diplomacy or changing geopolitical interests to weaken Tanzania’s commitment to international justice and self-determination.
“My first statement is to support Tanzania’s current position of continuing to recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,” Shaibu said. “I also appeal for Tanzania to maintain this stance.”
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The question of SADR remains one of Africa’s longest unresolved decolonization and self-determination issues. Following Spain’s withdrawal from the territory in 1975, sovereignty over SADR became contested, with Morocco taking control of much of the territory while the Polisario Front continued to advocate for the independence of SADR.
Thousands of Sahrawis have been displaced, many of whom have spent decades in refugee camps in neighboring Algeria, while successive generations have grown up without a permanent political settlement.
Although the United Nations and the African Union have repeatedly called for a process that would allow the people of Western Sahara to determine their future through self-determination, a lasting solution has remained elusive.
The prolonged stalemate continues to affect livelihoods, education opportunities and economic development for many Sahrawis, making the conflict one of the continent’s most enduring political challenges.
Tanzania has historically been among Africa’s strongest supporters of SADR. The country recognized the republic shortly after its proclamation and established formal diplomatic relations with the Polisario Front in 1978.
However, Tanzania’s decision to strengthen diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2016 sparked debate among some observers, who questioned whether the country was departing from a foreign policy tradition closely associated with the late founding president, Julius Nyerere.
Despite those concerns, Tanzania has maintained diplomatic relations with both Morocco and SADR, reflecting its effort to balance regional diplomacy while preserving its historic support for the Sahrawi people.
The government’s position was underscored in April when CCM Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro met SADR President Brahim Ghali on the sidelines of events commemorating the republic’s 50th anniversary.
During the meeting on April 9, 2026, Migiro conveyed greetings from President Samia Suluhu Hassan and reiterated Tanzania’s longstanding support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
According to a statement issued by CCM, Migiro emphasized that both the party and the Tanzanian government have consistently supported the Sahrawi cause, a policy rooted in principles established during the era of Julius Nyerere.
For his part, Ghali thanked President Samia for sending a delegation to the 50th anniversary celebrations held on April 8, 2026, at the Ausserd refugee camp. He also requested that his appreciation be conveyed to the Tanzanian government, CCM and the people of Tanzania for their continued solidarity.
Tanzania’s latest statements indicate that while the country continues to expand diplomatic and economic relations across Africa, it intends to maintain its historic support for SADR and the Sahrawi people’s quest for self-determination, a position that has remained a consistent feature of its foreign policy for decades.
