To support President Samia Suluhu Hassan's policies of economic openness, the chief of staff of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF), John Mkunda, turned to the United Arab Emirates last month.
Mkunda, whom the president appointed with great fanfare last June, is seeking to diversify Tanzania's military partnerships, long dominated by China. This artillery officer who trained in Bangladesh and India and was previously in charge of the TPDF's operations and training was land army commander from
