When it surfaced, it was treated just like any other rumours. But Tanzania’s re-flagging Iran ships is now an open secret. It came to light that Iranian tankers were flagged by Tanzania and Tuvalu in order to avoid and escape nippy and biting sanctions extended to Iran. By doing so, Tanzania, a member of the East African Community, was intentionally and maliciously breaking international law. So too, Tanzania was seriously endangering the security and economies of the whole region. Tanzania, just like anyone else, knew that Iran was sanctioned due to its stance of aiding terrorist groups and clinging on its nuclear weapon programs. Currently, East African countries are facing a threat from Somalia’s Al Shabaab whose terrorist operations have already seen two countries namely Kenya and Uganda attacked at various times. Kenya with its friends is currently in Somalia trying to flush, if not to wipe, out Al Shabaab.
Recently, the Senate in the US was pressuring President Barack Obama to extemporarily slap Tanzania with sanctions as a punishment for re-flagging Iran. A letter from SenatorsMark Kirk (R-IL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was quoted by the Cable as saying, “ The actions of the Tanzanian and Tuvaluan ship registries directly undermine the international community's ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear and ballistic missile technology, and appear to be in violation of the legislation you just signed into law.” Tanzania is not a parvenu in the EAC. If sanctions are applyied on it, such a move will mean that other East African Countries trading with Tanzania are likely to be directly and indirectly affected. This will not only curtail economic development in the bloc but will also cause diplomatic confusion especially for landlocked countries using Tanzania’s harbours to import and export their commodities.
More on re-flagging Iranian tankers, Tanzania admitted to have caught redhanded and promised to deregister 36 tankers. Interestingly, when the government was cornered it said that it was not awared of such national humiliation-cum-sabotage. To save its face, Tanzania blamed the whole fracas on the so-called Dubai-based the Tanzania Zanzibar International Register of Shipping. If anything, Zanzibar’s status in the EAC is going to create many problems if not addressed legally and timely. For there are some matters that are non-union it can use either blindly or purposely to sabotage the EAC. Given that there are some grumblings and confusion over the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar currently chances are that Zanzibar knew what it did. It might have ignored the consequences knowingly that if Iran paid it handsomely the monies will end up in its coffers at the expense of the whole region. Circumstantially, this means Zanzibar is open for whoever has a big purse even if that person is Al Shabaab. Evidentially, it means that if Iran pays Zanzibar to accommodate Al Shabaab Zanzibar will comply. These being the possibilities for Zanzibar to gain money, being an island, proves to be a very good strategic area for Al Shabaab and other terrorist groups shall they want to use provided they have cash for their operations. Is this going to be a precursor of so much to come?
Looking at who is bearing responsibility, Zanzibar is likely to scot-free. Reports have it that Zanzibaris government under the influence of one undisclosed former Zanzibari president, Zanzibar entered in agreement to re-flag Iran’s tankers. Up to now Zanzibar has three living former presidents namely Ali Hassan Mwinyi who also saved as union President, Salmin Amour and Amani Abeid Karume. Despite all, Zanzibar is not in the limelight and does not face any hostilities to answer questions resulting from this scandal. It is Tanzania that is running the show when it comes to responsibility. Iran ship re-flagging by Zanzibar is like the case involving a doli incapax or juvenile whereby he commits the crime but the parents bear all consequences. If such a child is not caned is likely to commit even gravier crimes than the one he has already committed.
As the heat kept on rising on the matter, Tanzania’s foreign affairs minister Bernard Membe was quoted by BBC as saying, "If it is confirmed that the ships flying Tanzania's flag are indeed from Iran, we will take steps to deliberately obliterate the registration.” Again, despite all these braggadacios the dent had already been made. For such admission US authorities have the evidence it need to prove and warrant sanctions shall it decide to. Tanzania to avoid punishment for abeting with Iran will all depend on the mercy of the US and the international community.
Although Tanzania’s international relations policy is the matter of its sovereignity many still wonder how Tanzania could take such suicidal and selfish stance ignoring the consequence the regional can suffer from its move. Knowing how Iran has secretly been supporting terrorist groups to destabilize countries with the view that Islamic sentiments would comeforth and have a say in the government,why didn’t Tanzania think about its neighbours especially Kenya that has been under Al Shabaab’s attack? With such better- than- thou mentality will EAC be safer?
Source: The East African Executive Magazine August 22, 2012.