MCC
Statement on Decision of Board of Directors to Suspend Partnership with
Tanzania
For
Immediate Release
March
28, 2016
Contact:
202-521-3880
Email:
press@mcc.gov
Washington,
D.C. — In December 2015, the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) Board of
Directors deferred a vote on the reselection of Tanzania for compact
eligibility, citing the nullification of election results in Zanzibar and the
need for a prompt, fair and peaceful conclusion of the electoral process. The Board also sought assurances from the
Government of Tanzania that the Cybercrimes Act would not be used to limit
freedom of expression and association, in light of arrests made during the
elections. These concerns were repeated
on a number of occasions, including in a statement of Ambassador Mark B.
Childress.
On
March 20, 2016, Tanzania moved forward with a new election in Zanzibar that was
neither inclusive nor representative, despite the repeated concerns of the U.S.
Government and the international community.
The Government of Tanzania has also not taken measures to ensure freedom
of expression and association are respected in the implementation of the
Cybercrimes Act.
MCC’s
model has a partner country’s commitment to democracy and free and fair
elections at its core. The elections in
Zanzibar and application of the Cybercrimes Act run counter to this
commitment. As a result, while the
United States and Tanzania continue to share many priorities, the MCC Board of
Directors determined that the Government of Tanzania has engaged in a pattern
of actions inconsistent with MCC’s eligibility criteria, and voted to suspend
the agency’s partnership with the Government of Tanzania. MCC will therefore cease all activities
related to the development of a second compact with Tanzania.
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