Proposed Changes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: An Analysis
After careful reflection, I am pleased to share my thoughts on the proposed changes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While I cannot cover all of the proposed changes in this article, I will highlight some of the key proposals and offer my analysis.
1. Splitting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation into The Ministry of International Cooperation and The Ministry of East African Cooperation
I am glad to see that we are following suit of other East African Cooperation nations by forming a ministry dedicated to our most important multilateral union. I initially believed that East African Cooperation should be elevated to its own department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as I thought that having a completely separate ministry might cause a power struggle. However, after hearing how the new ministry dedicated to East Africa would be structured.
I am left assured that the new Ministry of International Cooperation will continue to take the lead in key issues such as politics and security, while the Ministry of East African Cooperation will handle other matters of cooperation that are not traditional issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. The ministry’s office in Zanzibar is to be elevated to a department headed by a director with the title of ambassador with other FSOs.
I believe that this change will ensure that Zanzibar’s priorities and needs will be included in all matters concerning the Ministry of International Cooperation. Zanzibar is an equal partner to the Union, and non-Union matters handled by the ministry will now include Zanzibar considerations at the highest level.
3. Moving the Ministry of International Cooperation to the President’s office.
This has been announced as a temporary measure while the ministry adapts the newly proposed changes to ensure close supervision and support from the President’s office. While I understand the logic behind this proposal, I am not sure if it elevates the status of the ministry. I believe the changes could be adapted without it being under the President’s office. However, I am willing to give this change a chance, especially if it ensures that the proposed changes receive the added attention and support they need.
4. New Department of International Analysis
I am incredibly excited about the creation of a new Department of International Analysis. This is something I never thought of, but immediately after hearing its function, I realized what a smart addition it is. This department will centralize the analysis of different countries, regions, and situations, which will help the ministry in developing policy and courses of action, as well as releasing statements regarding current affairs.
5. Structure of our missions abroad
Another welcome proposal is the comprehensive analysis of the need for our missions abroad to reflect our current needs. This means that some embassies will be closed down and new ones will be opened to reflect our current needs. This should have happened years ago, and I am glad it is being proposed now.
There are many key strategic areas where we lack direct representation, such as Botswana, which is the headquarters of SADC, and Côte d’Ivoire, which is the headquarters of the African Development Bank and would be our gateway to Francophone Africa.
6. The Appointment of Ambassadors
The Commission has recommended changes in the practice of appointing and deploying ambassadors. It has been recommended that standard procedures be set to appoint new ambassadors and where to have them posted. It is also welcome news that the pool of ambassadorial appointments will include those outside the government, as they add a unique perspective to the role.
I still believe able and capable FSOs should be promoted to the rank of ambassador, but the President should not be limited to appointing only FSOs and other government officials. It is also great to hear that ambassadorships will no longer be used as a means to remove non-performing civil servants.
7. Recruitment of new FSOs
The Commission has noticed a gap in the ministry’s human resources and has recommended the number of new officers to be recruited in order to increase the efficiency and capabilities of the ministry. The Commission has also recommended that the ministry be allowed to control its own recruitment process in order to ensure that the right people are recruited. Capacity building for new and current officers and ambassadors has also been included to ensure that the ministry is staffed with the right people equipped with the right tools for the job.
Conclusion:
Overall, I am very impressed with the recommendations put forward by the Commission. For those of us who are keen observers of the ministry, we are surely happy that a lot of the changes that we have been voicing have been included. All that is left to be seen is the implementation phase. With the ministry moving under the President’s office, I would expect nothing but a smooth transition to accommodate the changes.
In addition to the above, I would like to add the following:
I am particularly pleased to see the emphasis on capacity building. This is essential for ensuring that the ministry has the skilled and knowledgeable personnel it needs to carry out its mandate effectively.
I am also glad to see the emphasis on transparency and accountability. These are essential for building public trust in the ministry and ensuring that it is operating in a responsible and efficient manner.
I believe that the proposed changes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the potential to significantly improve its performance and effectiveness. I urge the government to implement these changes as soon as possible.
Thomas Joel Kibwana is an international relations and business development expert. He is available at thomasjkibwana@gmail.com or on X (Twitter) as Thomas Joel Kibwana.
