Mahmoud Thabit Kombo (born 1970) is a Tanzanian politician from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. A highly educated individual with a background in ICT, business, and diplomacy, he has held various ministerial positions in the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and currently serves as Tanzania’s chief diplomat.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Mahmoud Thabit Kombo |
| Born | July 8, 1970, Zanzibar |
| Political Party | Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) |
| Current Office | Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation (Since July 2024) |
| Former Office | Minister of Health, Zanzibar (2016–2024); Ambassador to Italy (2024) |
| Education | B.A. Business Accounting & Computing (University of Sunderland, UK); M.A. International Relations & Diplomacy (Geneva School of Diplomacy) |
| Significance | Key diplomatic representative managing Tanzania’s foreign relations during a period of domestic political tension. |
Education, Business, and Zanzibari Politics
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IT and Business Background: Kombo holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in technical and business fields from institutions in the UK and used this expertise in his early career, holding managerial positions at IT and telecommunications companies like Zantel.
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Zanzibar Government: His political career began in Zanzibar, where he has been a Member of the House of Representatives since 2005. He held several Deputy Ministerial roles before serving as the Minister of Health in the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar from 2016 to 2024. During this time, he focused on local community development, including health, education, and water projects in his constituency.
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Ascendancy to Foreign Minister
Kombo’s promotion to Tanzania’s top diplomatic post reflects his stature within the CCM party and the trust placed in him by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
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Ambassadorial Role: In early 2024, he was appointed as Tanzania’s Ambassador to Italy.
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Foreign Minister Appointment (2024): In a major cabinet reshuffle in July 2024, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Kombo as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, succeeding January Makamba.
Diplomatic Role and Political Context
As Foreign Minister, Kombo is the face of Tanzania’s foreign policy, a role that has proven particularly sensitive given the country’s recent domestic events.
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Economic Diplomacy: Kombo has publicly advocated for economic diplomacy, aiming to leverage Tanzania’s foreign policy to attract investment, strengthen economic cooperation, and promote the country’s business interests abroad.
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Managing Political Tension: His tenure coincided with intense domestic political unrest, including the crackdown on the opposition (CHADEMA) and the controversial 2025 general election. He has been tasked with defending the Tanzanian government’s actions to the international community and multilateral bodies, including the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and the European Union, in the face of international criticism regarding human rights and democratic backsliding. He has emphasized the need for national healing and upheld the legitimacy of the government’s investigation into the unrest.
Mahmoud Thabit Kombo’s challenge is to balance the interests of the ruling party with the need to maintain strong, functional diplomatic ties with key development partners amidst turbulent domestic politics.