Joseph Isangura
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan arrived in Cuba on November 6, 2024, for a state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations and exploring new economic partnerships.
Her visit, set to last until November 8, includes discussions with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel focused on cooperation across various sectors, including healthcare, education, sports, and tourism.
One highlight of this diplomatic mission is President Hassan’s commitment to promoting Kiswahili as an international language. In line with this, she will attend the opening of the International Kiswahili Conference in Havana as a guest of honor on November 8, a significant event aimed at fostering linguistic and cultural ties between East Africa and Latin America. Organized by Tanzania’s ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole, this conference marks the first attempt to introduce Kiswahili formally in the Caribbean and Latin American regions.
President Hassan and her delegation are expected to discuss strategies for joint ventures that would leverage Cuba’s renowned public health system, developed despite decades of economic sanctions. Through this partnership, both nations hope to improve healthcare accessibility in underserved areas in Tanzania and create exchange opportunities for medical professionals. In recent years, Cuba has sent medical personnel to assist in various African countries, including Kenya, where Cuban doctors have been deployed in rural healthcare initiatives.
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An exciting addition to President Hassan’s agenda is the launch of a Spanish-Kiswahili dictionary and a bilingual booklet of common expressions, created by the University of Dar es Salaam in collaboration with the University of Havana. These resources aim to facilitate cultural and linguistic exchanges, promoting Kiswahili’s growth beyond East Africa. The conference is expected to draw over 400 attendees from different sectors, emphasizing the global significance of this linguistic initiative.
This visit also underscores Tanzania’s broader foreign policy goals of deepening ties with nations outside the traditional spheres of influence and enhancing its regional leadership role.
