The Belt and Road Initiative in East Africa: China’s Growing Influence in Tanzania

This study investigates China’s expanding presence in East Africa through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with a specific emphasis on Tanzania. Since its inception in 2013, the BRI has facilitated China’s emergence as a key economic actor on the African continent, primarily through investments in infrastructure aimed at improving trade networks and regional connectivity. In Tanzania, projects such as the construction of the Bagamoyo Port, rail systems, and highway networks highlight the growing economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations. The research examines the multifaceted implications of this relationship – economic, political, and strategic – while also addressing the potential risks related to national debt, employment practices, and governance autonomy. Ultimately, the paper contends that China’s involvement in Tanzania via the BRI is part of a wider strategy to establish lasting geopolitical leverage in East Africa. By analysing the tangible and intangible effects of these initiatives, this paper contributes to ongoing debates about China’s role in shaping development trajectories in the Global South.