Author: Felix Kufus, Advisor, Digital Peacemaking & Emerging Technologies at CMI.
The Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam was buzzing with energy on May 15, filled with diplomats, peace practitioners, and young leaders. This was Tanzania; the country where Martti Ahtisaari served as Finland’s Ambassador from 1973. He would forge personal connections and gain deep understanding of African liberation movements that would prove essential to his later success across the continent and beyond.
Young leaders aren’t asking to be heard someday; they’re demanding space to be heard now, writes Felix Kufus. Image: Peter Seenan/CMI
The timing of CMI’s Legacy Seminar felt particularly meaningful. President of Finland Alexander Stubb was in Dar es Salaam to celebrate 60 years of Finland–Tanzania diplomatic relations, and CMI’s delegation had the honor of being invited to the state dinner hosted by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in his honour. The warmth of Tanzanian hospitality reminded me why President Ahtisaari always spoke so fondly of his years here.
The Power of Personal Connections
Marko Ahtisaari’s opening remarks transported us back five decades. He shared family stories: moving to Tanzania as a young boy, ‘Finland Week’ at the National Museum featuring Marimekko designs, and most memorably, then-Ambassador Martti’s famous “sauna diplomacy” at the Finnish residence. These weren’t just diplomatic protocols; they were the building blocks of trust that would later contribute to the Namibian peace process.
What struck me most was learning how President Ahtisaari’s deep personal bonds with leaders like Julius Nyerere and Benjamin Mkapa weren’t merely professional relationships, but were friendships built on mutual respect and shared values. CMI’s Chair of the Board echoed his father’s conviction with the words: “all conflicts can be resolved,” but “you can’t do a damn thing alone.”
Panellists reminded the audience of the importance of meaningful youth participation, with 74% of Tanzanians aged under 40. Image: Peter Seenan/CMI
Tanzania’s Continuing Legacy
In Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo’s welcome, he captured Tanzania’s dual identity as both beneficiary and contributor to peacemaking. He noted that the country has hosted over a million refugees while simultaneously mediating conflicts from Burundi to the DRC. Under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, he said, the historic joint EAC-SADC summit addressing Eastern DRC conflicts showcased Tanzania’s growing influence.
The panel discussions revealed fascinating insights into modern mediation challenges. Perhaps most inspiring were the youth voices in the seminar. Joseph Brighton Malekela’s passionate advocacy for meaningful youth participation reminded us that 74% of Tanzanians are under 40. As Minister Kombo said, this demographic divide could be either a “blessing” or a “curse”, depending on how well Tanzania engages them in society and peacebuilding.
The Legacy Seminar in Tanzania coincided with 60 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Tanzania. Image: Peter Seenan/CMI
The conversations about “WhatsApp diplomacy” and countering digital recruitment by violent groups felt urgently relevant. These young leaders aren’t asking to be heard someday; they’re demanding space to be heard now.
Reflections on an Enduring Partnership
As our day concluded, it occurred to me that President Ahtisaari’s legacy lives on not in monuments, but in moments like these; where Finnish and Tanzanian practitioners share experiences, learn from each other, and commit to keeping the space for dialogue open.
Walking through Dar es Salaam’s streets afterward, I understood why this place remained so close to President Ahtisaari’s heart. Tanzania didn’t just give him his first major diplomatic opportunity: it taught him that effective peacemaking requires deep cultural understanding, patient relationship-building, and unwavering optimism about human nature.
Felix Kufus, CMI’s Rapporteur in Tanzania. Photo: CMI
The seminar reminded us that in an era of shrinking space for peace, partnerships like Finland–Tanzania matter more than ever. Foundations built on trust and mutual respect can weather any storm.
What were the main items on the agenda at the Legacy Seminar in Tanzania? Read the report here