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Tanzania Asks China for Debt Write-Off, Approves Rail Deal

President Magufuli asks for $167.7 million in debt forgiveness
Congo gets debt relief from China on foreign minister’s tour

Part of a new railway line construction site on the outskirts of Morogoro,Tanzania. — Part of a new railway line construction site on the outskirts of Morogoro,Tanzania.
Photographer: Andrew Aitchison/In Pictures/Getty Images

By

Fumbuka Ng'Wanakilala and

Michael J Kavanagh

January 8, 2021, 4:37 PM UTCUpdated onJanuary 8, 2021, 6:23 PM UTC

Tanzania asked Beijing for debt relief and signed a new multibillion-dollar railway deal during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s Africa tour.

President John Magufuli asked for the cancellation of old debts totaling $167.7 million, according to the East African nation’s presidency. Earlier Friday, Tanzania signed a $1.32 billion rail-development contract with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. and China Railway Construction Corp.