The British had to undertake tough negotiations in 2021 with Kenya to extend their training base lease. French bases have been closing across the Sahel & UN missions have been dismantled. India failed in its attempt to open a military facility in the Seychelles. Tanzania however seems to be blind on such realities and continue to tolerate China Military.
The scramble for Military partnership in Africa has seen the USA, Britain, China & Russia penetrate into African countries. With America & Britain dominance in East Africa, China has found a soft spot landing in Tanzania.
The militaries of China, Tanzania and Mozambique are holding the Peace Unity-2024 joint exercise that started in late July and will continue up until mid-August on land and at sea under the subject of joint counter-terrorism military operations.
This a clear sign of Tanzania being a hub of China’s People Liberations Army. However, any Foreign Military intervention comes with a heavy prize. For instance, British entry in Kenya was disguised as a partnership but ended up being a way in which the British army strategically needed a location to train its soldiers.
British Soldiers in Kenya in Comparison to China in Tanzania
The stay of the British soldiers has been marred with cases of rape on young women in areas of training, destruction of environment through explosives exercises and drills, Burning of forest near the training grounds and displacement of some local communities.
Tanzania stares at such factors as China slowly penetrates. While the entry of China People liberation Army is paraded as joint partnership, this is among the current methodology being deployed by China to position itself strategically.
The bigger question being, is Tanzania ready to pay the heavy prize of accommodating a foreign Military with vast interest in the region?
Also, China’s Military presence in Tanzania faces some serious scrutiny if the Neighboring country is to pick lessons from Kenya.
PLA forces arrived in Tanzania by sea and air in the last days of July, with the PLA Navy sending landing ships, the Wuzhishan and Qilianshan, a guided missile destroyer, the Hefei, and the PLA Air Force sending Y-20 strategic transport aircraft carrying PLA Army troops and heavy equipment such as armored and assault vehicles.
This machinery is often associated with environmental destruction while conducting extensive Military exercises. Lately, China has embarked on intensive military exchanges, joint exercises and joint patrols with foreign countries in a bid to boost friendships & cooperation. This though not coming cheaply as China targets increase in its influence in the sub-Saharan region.
This sort of Military entries carries with them interests. China has been endeavoring to outdo the US and Britain in Africa military dominance. Minerals possessed in Tanzania could be a target by China and to eventually exploit that, Military partnership is the tool of trade. The time Tanzania figures out China will have already established a permanent base in Tanzania.
Also Read: Exposed: Inside British Soldiers Controversial Initiation with Kenyan Sex Workers
Impacts of British Army in Kenya
Kenya is now battling effects of British army exercises in the country where soldiers have been accused of raping local women & in some cases accused of killing them.
The argument being if Tanzania has put in place such considerations and how they would deal with such if it happened?
Many of the military interactions focus on counterterrorism, peacekeeping and regional security issues, while others are friendly visits or celebrations. While it’s biggest rivals the US and Britain have bases in at least a country within East Africa, China’s disguised partnership with Tanzania in military exercise provides a clear picture of China’s Army vast interest to have a base in Tanzania.
Military bases have proved to be a political liability for African governments that host them. Countries with foreign Military bases like Kenya, the population has continuously expressed being cautious of foreign bases. Like in Sahel region, Tanzania must be wary of the perception that the foreign military (China) may undermine the host government’s domestic agenda or sovereignty.
Also Read: Family Seeks Justice for Kin Allegedly Killed by British Soldier 12 Years Ago
Countries in Africa are increasingly being hesitant about welcoming any foreign Military. According to a 2016 AU Peace and Security Council decision advised countries to be careful about accommodating any foreign bases within their territory. The Military superpowers have decoyed behind Military partnerships to influence Geopolitics. With the US using Kenya to stamp its influence in the Sub-Saharan region, China has turned to Tanzania in a bid to counter America’s influence.
Tanzania population must open their eyes and be wary of what sits ahead of them. They must measure the China PLA entry in their territory!
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