Number: RS22781
Title: Tanzania: Background and Current Conditions
Authors: Ted Dagne and Nicolas Cook, Specialists in African Affairs, Hannah Reeves, Research Associate, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: Tanzania, an important U.S. ally in Africa, is a stable and important regional actor. There has been a gradual increase in political pluralism, but Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM ), the ruling party, remains dominant in government and parliament. Tanzania's current president, Jakaya Kikwete, who previously served for ten years as Tanzania's foreign minister, won 80.3% of the votes cast in the December 2005 presidential election. Tanzania continues its pattern of steady real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and has a low and stable inflation rate. The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts that inflation will fall from an average of 7% in 2007 to 5.5% in 2008. This report will not be updated.
Pages: 5
Date: December 20, 2007