We must clear our name on North Korea

The minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Augustine Mahiga

What you need to know:

  • On Friday, the minister addressed a press conference in Dar es Salaam where he not only dismissed the allegations that Tanzania was still militarily dealing with Pyongyang against UN sanctions, but also explained the circumstances that may have led to the suspicions. Granted, Dr Mahiga’s task and, of course, that of all the other African nations fingered in the UN report could require delicate diplomatic finessing considering the sensitivity and global significance of the North Korea issue.

The minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Augustine Mahiga, was yesterday expected to jet off to the United Nations headquarters in New York where he is scheduled to defend Tanzania following its inclusion on a United Nations list of 11 African countries that are being accused of defying international sanctions slapped against North Korea over its widely-condemned nuclear programme.

On Friday, the minister addressed a press conference in Dar es Salaam where he not only dismissed the allegations that Tanzania was still militarily dealing with Pyongyang against UN sanctions, but also explained the circumstances that may have led to the suspicions. Granted, Dr Mahiga’s task and, of course, that of all the other African nations fingered in the UN report could require delicate diplomatic finessing considering the sensitivity and global significance of the North Korea issue.

Experts have warned that the North Korea’s development of ballistic missiles and its large-scale military nuclear programme are becoming increasingly real and imminent problems for the rest of the world, not just for the Korean peninsula. This is why the UN Security Council is pushing for a tougher global stance against the Asian nation – and urging nations to cooperate.

According to a UN report published by an eight-member panel and cited by the international media last week, the UN is set to probe the allegations that North Korea, which is facing mounting criticism over its nuclear programme and human rights practices, sidestepped international sanctions to provide military and security assistance to Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Mozambique, Namibia, Benin, Botswana, Mali, and Zimbabwe.

At the press conference on Friday, the minister noted that Tanzania is still preparing a report in response to the allegations in a bid to clear its name. While that report is yet to be finalised, we take this opportunity to urge the minister and his team to ensure that the country’s name is cleared.

This is because it is our view that it’s in the best interest of Tanzania, as a member of the global community bound by international statutes, to protect its reputation with regards to honouring and cooperating with UN resolutions – not the least those that are aimed at promoting global peace.

Encouragingly, the minister has made it clear that Tanzania’s stance on the North Korea issue is one that is rooted in our belief in dialogue as opposed to confrontation in conflict resolution. This is why we have had to gradually end our association with North Korea considering the fact that like many other African nations, we had long fostered diplomatic, economic and military relations with Pyongyang in the past.

Voice our concern

More so, as a nation that strongly believes in peaceful coexistence, we must consistently renounce war and increasingly voice our concern over the development of weapons of mass destruction. We are glad that the Foreign Affairs minister has noted that this also forms part of the message that he will deliver in New York this week. In fact, this is the message that the international community has been sending to the Asian state. Even some of its closest allies – China and Russia – have voiced concern, and are now taking more visible steps in line with UN Security Council sanctions to pile pressure on Pyongyang.