Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is on a three-day state visit to Russia, which has included a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
This is the first time since 1969 that a Tanzanian leader has visited Moscow. Back then it was Julius Nyerere, whose socialist policies shaped Tanzania in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Warming relations between Tanzania, Russia
Russian efforts to build a relationship with Hassan's government began shortly after her disputed 2025 reelection, when she received 98% of the vote. A Russian delegation met with Hassan after the October vote, reportedly with a personal message from Putin.
Hassan has brought a Tanzanian business delegation to Russia which is hoping to sign trade, tourism and minerals deals. Currently, the balance of trade between Tanzania and Russia is around $307 million (€264 million) per year, but a new Russia-Tanzania Business Council created in January aims to boost this figure. Air Tanzania has said it would start flights from Dar es Salaam to Moscow by the end of 2026.
