DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has publicly rebuked Kenyan President William Ruto over his announcement of a proposed oil refinery in Tanga, saying the plan had been made without her knowledge and raising questions about coordination between the two governments.
Speaking during a joint engagement in Tanzania, Suluhu disclosed that she confronted President Ruto privately after he announced the refinery project following earlier talks involving Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote.
“Sasa, tulipokuwa tunaongea ndani kule, nilimbana Ruto, nikamuambia wewe unaenda kutangaza refinery Tanga ambayo mimi sijui,” Suluhu said. “Sasa atasema mwenye pale, kwanini katangaza.”
Her remarks translate to a direct challenge, with the Tanzanian leader questioning why President Ruto publicly announced a project she had not been briefed on, effectively distancing her administration from the proposal.
The incident unfolded in the presence of senior Kenyan officials, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, alongside other regional leaders.
Diplomatic unease over investment signals
Suluhu’s comments point to potential diplomatic friction between Nairobi and Dodoma, particularly around high-stakes infrastructure and energy investments that require bilateral or host-country approval.
While Kenya has been positioning itself as a regional economic hub, including facilitating cross-border energy projects, Tanzania retains sovereign control over investments within its territory.
The development also highlights the delicate balance in East Africa’s energy diplomacy, where countries compete and collaborate simultaneously over oil, gas, and refining capacity.
The Dangote connection and Tanga refinery proposal
The proposed refinery in Tanga has been linked to discussions involving Dangote, Africa’s richest man and owner of the massive Dangote Group.
Dangote recently completed the multibillion-dollar Dangote Refinery in Lagos, Nigeria—Africa’s largest oil refinery—positioning himself as a key player in reducing the continent’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Regional leaders, including President Ruto, have been engaging Dangote on potential investments beyond Nigeria, with the Tanga refinery emerging as one of the ideas under discussion. The project, if feasible, would aim to enhance fuel security in East Africa and tap into regional demand.
Under international investment norms and Tanzania’s domestic legal framework, major infrastructure projects require formal approvals, feasibility studies, and often parliamentary or regulatory oversight. Public declarations without these processes can trigger political and legal complications.
