By Business Insider Reporter and Agencies
As African capitals move to evacuate their nationals from Iran and other parts of the Middle East following a sharp escalation in hostilities, Tanzania has issued an official statement calling for calm, vigilance and immediate registration of its citizens in the affected region.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation said it was closely monitoring developments following coordinated US–Israeli air strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory missile attacks across the region.
The government urged Tanzanian nationals residing in Iran and neighbouring countries to exercise extreme caution and maintain close contact with Tanzanian diplomatic missions.
“The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is following with deep concern the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East,” the ministry said, advising citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the region until further notice.
Heightened regional risk
The escalation has disrupted commercial flights and heightened security risks across multiple Gulf states, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – countries that host sizeable African diaspora communities, including Tanzanian workers, students and entrepreneurs.
While Tanzania does not have as large a migrant workforce in Iran as some West African countries, its citizens are present across the Gulf region in sectors ranging from hospitality and construction to logistics and small-scale trade. Any prolonged instability could therefore have both humanitarian and economic implications.
The ministry said Tanzanian embassies in the region had been instructed to compile updated registers of nationals and provide consular support where necessary.
It also encouraged families in Tanzania with relatives in the affected areas to remain in contact and follow official government communication channels.
Africa-wide evacuation efforts
Tanzania’s advisory comes as several African governments begin concrete evacuation plans. Ghana has temporarily shut its embassy in Tehran and retained only essential consular staff. Nigeria has announced preparations for emergency airlifts of its citizens stranded in Iran and Israel.
Uganda has begun evacuating dozens of students via Turkey, while Kenya and Sudan are reportedly making similar logistical arrangements.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation has urged its nationals in the region to register with the nearest diplomatic missions to facilitate tracking and potential evacuation.
The rapid diplomatic mobilisation underscores growing concern that the conflict could widen, drawing in additional regional actors and further disrupting civilian movement and airspace access.
Economic and diaspora implications
Beyond immediate safety concerns, the crisis carries economic implications for African economies, including Tanzania. The Middle East remains a key destination for migrant labour, and remittances from Tanzanians working abroad form part of household income flows.
A sustained disruption could also affect trade and energy markets, particularly if tensions spill over into major shipping lanes in the Gulf. Tanzanian businesses engaged in import-export trade with the Middle East are already monitoring freight routes and insurance costs amid heightened geopolitical risk.
For now, the Tanzanian government has not announced a full-scale evacuation but indicated that contingency plans are under review should conditions deteriorate further.
“The safety and welfare of Tanzanian citizens abroad remain the Government’s highest priority,” the ministry said, adding that further updates would be issued as the situation evolves. As uncertainty deepens, African governments – including Tanzania – are balancing diplomatic caution with logistical preparedness, aware that developments in the Middle East can rapidly reshape security and economic realities far beyond the region.
