Tanzania and Oman have taken a significant step in strengthening their longstanding relations through a new cooperation agreement in the media sector. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Oman Journalists Association (OJA), Tanzania Union of Journalists and Media Workers (JOWUTA), and Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) during a joint media conference in Dar es Salaam. This agreement marks a new chapter in the historical ties between the two nations, which have been built through trade, culture, and people-to-people interactions.
The agreement was signed on October 1, 2026, and its implementation will run for 12 months under a work plan designed to achieve the agreed objectives. Ambassador Abdallah Abasi Kilima, Director of the Middle East Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, emphasized the importance of journalists in documenting and explaining the shared history between Tanzania and Oman. He commended JOWUTA and TEF for organizing the conference, which aims to create opportunities for training, capacity building, professional exchange visits, and experience sharing.
The cooperation between Tanzania and Oman will focus on media freedom, professional and technological knowledge sharing, tourism, trade, and investment opportunities, as well as exchange programs involving journalists from both countries. JOWUTA chairman Mussa Juma Juma highlighted the significance of the conference in strengthening relations between the two nations and invited Omani investors to explore opportunities in Tanzania's media sector. The media sector in Tanzania includes radio, television, and newspapers, offering a range of opportunities for collaboration and growth.
TEF chairman Deodatus Balile emphasized the importance of cooperation between journalists from Tanzania and Oman in preserving and building on their shared history. He suggested that the 12-month work plan should include exchange visits, joint news production, and professional training, including the use of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in the media industry. This cooperation will not only strengthen media ties but also promote cultural exchange and understanding between the two nations.
OJA chairman Dr. Mohammed Mubarak Al-Araimi highlighted the deep historical roots of relations between Oman and Tanzania, which extend beyond geographical boundaries. He cited Zanzibar as a key area that has served as a center for interaction between Omani and African communities through trade, culture, and social ties. Dr. Al-Araimi emphasized the media's responsibility in using this history as a foundation for strengthening present and future relations.
Omani Ambassador to Tanzania Saud Hilal Al Shidhani congratulated the organizers of the conference and emphasized the strong historical and cultural foundation of relations between Oman and Tanzania. He noted that the use of Kiswahili in Oman had helped facilitate communication and strengthen ties between the people of the two countries. Ambassador Al Shidhani highlighted the importance of cooperation in the media sector in building capacity, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening professional journalism standards.
The conference brought together journalists, leaders, and stakeholders from Tanzania and Oman to establish a framework for sustained cooperation through training, exchange visits, joint news production, tourism, trade, and investment. The MoU was signed by JOWUTA, TEF, and OJA, and its implementation will be guided by a 12-month work plan. This cooperation agreement marks a significant step in strengthening media ties between Tanzania and Oman, promoting cultural exchange, and fostering economic growth.
Key points
- Tanzania and Oman have signed a 12-month cooperation agreement to strengthen media ties and foster historical, cultural, economic, and social relations.
- The agreement will focus on media freedom, professional and technological knowledge sharing, tourism, trade, and investment opportunities, as well as exchange programs involving journalists from both countries.
- The cooperation aims to create opportunities for training, capacity building, professional exchange visits, and experience sharing, promoting cultural exchange and understanding between the two nations.
