Salim Ahmed Salim

{{Short description|Tanzanian politician and diplomat}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Salim Ahmed Salim | image = Salim.JPG | office = 7th secretary general of the Organisation of African Unity | term_start = 19 September 1989 | term_end = 17 September 2001 | predecessor = Ide Oumarou | successor = Amara Essy | office2 = Minister of Defence and National Service | term_start2 = 1985 | term_end2 = 1989 | president2 = Ali Hassan Mwinyi | predecessor2 = Muhidini Kimario | successor2 = Jackson Makwetta | order3 = | office3 = Prime Minister of Tanzania | term_start3 = 24 April 1984 | term_end3 = 5 November 1985 | president3 = Julius Nyerere | predecessor3 = Edward Sokoine | successor3 = Joseph Warioba | office4 = 8th minister for foreign affairs | term_start4 = 1981 | term_end4 = 1984 | predecessor4 = Benjamin Mkapa | successor4 = Benjamin Mkapa | office5 = Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations | term_start5 = 1970 | term_end5 = 1980 | president5 = Julius Nyerere | predecessor5 = | successor5 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|1|23|df=y}} | birth_place tanga = | birth_name = Salim Ahmed Salim | children = {{Collapsible list|titlestyle=font-weight:68normal; background:transparent; text-align:left;|title= 3<ref name = "UN">{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/News/dh/hlpanel/salim-salim-bio.htm |title=Biography of Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim |date= April 2002 |work= United Nations |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref>||Maryam|Ali|Ahmed}} | alma_mater = St. Stephen's College, Delhi <br/> SIPA, Columbia {{small|(MIA)}} | committees = Chair, Mo Ibrahim Prize selection committee | blank1 = Positions | data1 = Chancellor, HKMU <br/> Chair, MNF | caption = Salim in 2010 | native_name_lang = ar | native_name = {{nobold|سلیم احمد سلیم}} }}

'''Salim Ahmed Salim''' ({{langx|ar|سليم احمد سليم}}, {{langx|sw|Salim Ahmad Salim}}, born 23 January 1942) is a Tanzanian politician and diplomat who has worked in the international diplomatic arena since the early 1960s. He served as prime minister for one year, from 1984 to 1985.

==Early life== Salim was born in what was then the Sultanate of Zanzibar to Sheikh Ahmed Salim Riyami, an ethnic Arab of Omani descent while his mother was a local-born mixed-descent Tanzanian, born to an ethnic Arab father and a mixed Afro-Arab mother.

==Education== He was educated at Lumumba College in Zanzibar and later pursued his undergraduate studies at the St. Stephen's College of the University of Delhi and obtained his master's degree in international affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York. He became a student activist in the 1950s and was founder and first vice president of the All-Zanzibar Student Union.

==Positions held in Tanzania== * Chief editor of a Zanzibar daily paper, Secretary General of the All-Zanzibar Journalists Organisation 1963–1964 * Minister for Foreign Affairs 1980–1984 * Prime Minister of Tanzania 1984–1985 * Deputy Prime Minister of Tanzania 1986–1989 * Minister of Defence and National Service 1985–1989<ref name="histdict">{{cite book |last1=Ofcansky |first1=Thomas P. |last2=Yeager |first2=Rodger |title=Historical dictionary of Tanzania |date=1997 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham, Md. |isbn=9780810832442 |edition=2.}}</ref> * President of the Julius K. Nyerere Foundation 2001 – current * Member of the Central Committee of the ruling political party in Tanzania (Chama Cha Mapinduzi). * Member of the Tanzania Commission for Constitution Review 2012–2014

==Diplomatic positions held== * Deputy chief representative of the Zanzibar Office based in Havana, Cuba 1961–1962 * Tanzania Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt 1964–1965 * Tanzanian High Commissioner (i.e. Ambassador) to India 1965–1968 * Tanzania Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China 1969–1970 * Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations 1970–1980<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tanzania-un.org/index.asp?pgid=96|title=Permanent Representatives|publisher=Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations|access-date=16 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404090952/http://tanzania-un.org/index.asp?pgid=96|archive-date=4 April 2011}}</ref> * Tanzania Ambassador to Cuba 1970–1980 (served while at the UN) * Tanzanian High Commissioner to Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago 1970–1980 (served while at the UN) * Secretary-general of the OAU 1989–2001 * African Union special envoy on the Darfur Conflict 2004–2008

===Positions at the United Nations=== <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: thumb|220px|'''Salim Ahmed Salim at the UN Security Council''' --> * June/July 1972: Chairman of the United Nations Special Mission to Niue * August 1972: Drafting Committee of the Political Committee of the Ministerial Conference of non-Aligned States, Georgetown, Guyana * 1972 to 1980: Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (Committee of 24). * April 1973: Chairman of the Political Committee of International Conference of Experts in Support of the Victims of Colonialism and Apartheid in Southern Africa, Oslo * 1975: Chairman of the Security Council's Committee on Sanctions against Southern Rhodesia * 1976: President of the United Nations Security Council * 1979: President of the United Nations General Assembly for the Thirty-fourth, Sixth emergency special, Seventh emergency special, and Eleventh special sessions. * 1981: President of the International Conference on Sanctions against South Africa. * 1984: President of the Paris International Conference Against Apartheid.

===Campaign for UN Secretary General=== {{See also|United Nations Secretary-General selection, 1981}}

In 1981, Salim Ahmed Salim ran for Secretary-General of the United Nations against the two-term incumbent, Kurt Waldheim of Austria. Salim was then serving as President of the United Nations General Assembly, and he had the support of the Organisation of African Unity and the Non-Aligned Movement.<ref name="nytimes19811101">{{cite news|last1=Nossiter|first1=Bernard D.|title=Someone is Trying to Fire Dr. Waldheim|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/01/weekinreview/someone-is-trying-to-fire-dr-waldheim.html|work=The New York Times|date=1 November 1981}}</ref><ref name="wapost19811116">{{cite news|last1=Berlin|first1=Michael J.|title=Both Contenders Hoping for a Breakthrough in U.N. Election|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/11/16/both-contenders-hoping-for-a-breakthrough-in-un-election/ad0b7da6-e78e-4a00-b403-de5a5e9679e9/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=16 November 1981}}</ref> He could also count on China to veto Waldheim in the Security Council.<ref name="nytimes19811026">{{cite news|last1=Gargan|first1=Edward A.|title=Chinese Widening Role at the U.N.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/26/world/chinese-widening-role-at-the-un.html|work=The New York Times|date=26 October 1981}}</ref> However, Salim was opposed by the Reagan administration in the United States, which regarded him as an anti-American radical who was hostile to South Africa and supported Palestinian statehood.<ref name="wapost19810911">{{cite news|last1=Berlin|first1=Michael J.|title=Waldheim Declares Candidacy For Unprecedented 3rd Term|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=11 September 1981|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/09/11/waldheim-declares-candidacy-for-unprecedented-3rd-term/1cfa42ef-a7c3-432c-b765-952ab80d09e7/}}</ref><ref name="wapost19811025">{{cite news|last1=Berlin|first1=Michael J.|title=North vs. South in U.N. Contest|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=25 October 1981|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/10/25/north-vs-south-in-un-contest/e3dcd9a0-12b0-40ee-99ce-367ec95914ad/}}</ref><ref name="nytimes19811209">{{cite news|title=Tanzanian Ends Drive to Become Head of the U.N.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/09/world/tanzanian-ends-drive-to-become-head-of-the-un.html|work=The New York Times|date=9 December 1981}}</ref> The Soviet Union also opposed Salim for his activism and his pro-China stance.<ref name="wapost19811025"/>

Salim won the first round of voting with 11 votes to Waldheim's 10. As expected, Salim was vetoed by the United States, and Waldheim was vetoed by China. Salim's support dropped after the first round, as some countries believed that the United States was implacably opposed to Salim, while China had previously dropped its veto of Waldheim in 1971 and 1976.<ref name="wapost19811028">{{cite news|last1=Berlin|first1=Michael J.|title=Vetoes Deadlock Election of U.N. Secretary General|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1981/10/28/vetoes-deadlock-election-of-un-secretary-general/5caa711b-e166-46e5-9d87-b81b9af666da/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=28 October 1981}}</ref> However, neither country would relent, as the selection deadlocked for 6 weeks over a total of 16 rounds of voting. The deadlock finally ended when Waldheim and Salim both withdrew from the race, opening up the selection to other candidates.

In 1996, Salim was again mentioned for the office. Secretary-general Boutros Boutros-Ghali was running unopposed for a second term and had the support of 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council. The United States was opposed to Boutros-Ghali and offered to support any other African candidate, including Salim Ahmed Salim.<ref name="nytimes19960723">{{cite news|last1=Crossette|first1=Barbara|title=U.S. Warns U.N. on Campaigning for Post|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/23/world/us-warns-un-on-campaigning-for-post.html|work=The New York Times|date=23 July 1996}}</ref> However, France made it clear that it would veto Salim, so he was not nominated.<ref name="nytimes19961212">{{cite news|last1=Crossette|first1=Barbara|title=In Jockeying to Lead U.N., Ghanaian Is Moving Ahead|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/12/world/in-jockeying-to-lead-un-ghanaian-is-moving-ahead.html|work=The New York Times|date=12 December 1996}}</ref>

===Other diplomatic positions=== At the continental level, following the invitation of the president of the African Development Bank, he has since March, 2002 been acting as African Water Ambassador whose responsibilities include advocacy, sensitization, and mobilization of support on African water issues. He also serves as:

* Chairman, Advisory Board, Institute of Security Studies (ISS) based in Pretoria, South Africa * Chairman of the International Board of Trustees, Africa Humanitarian Action (AHI) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia * Member and Chairman of the advisory board of trustees of the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe * Member of the Panel of the Wise, a consultative body of the African Union<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2007-12-18-voa47-66814662/256183.html |title = AU Launches 'Panel of the Wise'| date=27 October 2009 }}</ref>

At international level, Salim serves on the following boards, panels and commissions: * Co-chair, Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (Secretariat, based in Washington DC) * Member of the board at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, an organisation which supports good governance and great leadership in Africa. Salim is also Chair of the Foundation’s Ibrahim Prize Committee, having taken over from the inaugural chair, Kofi Annan in 2011. * Member of the Global Leadership Foundation, an organization which works to support democratic leadership, prevent and resolve conflict through mediation and promote good governance in the form of democratic institutions, open markets, human rights and the rule of law. It does so by making available, discreetly and in confidence, the experience of former leaders to today’s national leaders. It is a not-for-profit organization composed of former heads of government, senior governmental and international organization officials who work closely with Heads of Government on governance-related issues of concern to them. * Member of the board of the South Centre (Secretariat based in Geneva) * Member, Policy Advisory Commission, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) * Member of the Foundation Council, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue based in Geneva * Eminent Member of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

==Honours and awards== ===Honours=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |-- ! colspan=2 | Order ! Country ! width="60px" |Year |- | width="80px" | 80px | Order of the Star of Africa | {{flag|Liberia}} | align="center" | 1980 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Order of the United Republic of Tanzania | {{flag|Tanzania}} | align="center" | 1985 |- | width="80px" | 80px | National Order of a Thousand Hills | {{flag|Rwanda|1962}} | align="center" | 1993 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Grand Cross of the Order of Devotion | {{flag|Republic of the Congo}} | align="center" | 1994 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Order of Merit (Grand Officer) | {{flag|Central African Republic}} | align="center" | 1994 |- | width="80px" | | Medal of Africa | {{flag|Libyan Arab Jamahiriya}} | align="center" | 1999 |- | width="80px" | 80px | National Order of the Lion (Grand Officer) | {{flag|Senegal}} | align="center" | 2000 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Order of the Two Niles | {{flag|Sudan}} | align="center" | 2001 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Ordre El-Athir | {{flag|Algeria}} | align="center" | 2001 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Order of Mono | {{flag|Togo}} | align="center" | 2001 |- | width="80px" | 80px | National Order of Mali (Commander) | {{flag|Mali}} | align="center" | 2001 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (Gold) | {{flag|South Africa}} | align="center" | 2004 |- | width="80px" | 80px | Order of the Uhuru Torch (Second Class) | {{flag|Tanzania}} | align="center" | 2011 |- | | Order of Friendship | {{flag|China}} | align="center" | 2019 |- | | Order of Amilcar Cabral (First Class)<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |user=mfa_tanzania |number=1676967311121747972 |date=6 July 2023 |title=Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim awarded order of Amilcar Cabral}}</ref> | {{flag|Cape Verde}} | align="center" | 2023 |}

===Awards=== *2014: Son of Africa Award by the African Union<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peaceau.org/uploads/press-release-closing-arusha-peace-retreat-23102014.pdf |title= Press Release |date=23 October 2014 |publisher=African Union |access-date=14 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Salim-crowned--Son-of-Africa-/-/1840392/2496298/-/yp5qpxz/-/index.html |title=Salim crowned 'Son of Africa' |last1=Magubira |first1=Patty |date=23 October 2014 |publisher=The Citizen |access-date=14 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129014655/http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Salim-crowned--Son-of-Africa-/-/1840392/2496298/-/yp5qpxz/-/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Honorary degrees=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! University !! Country !! Degree !! width="60px" |Year |- | University of the Philippines Los Baños || {{PHI}} || Doctor of Laws || align="center" |1980<ref name = "UN"/> |- | University of Maiduguri || {{NGA}} || Doctor of Humanities || align="center" |1983<ref name = "UN"/> |- | University of Mauritius || {{MUS}} || Doctor of Civil Law || align="center" |1991<ref name = "UN"/> |- | University of Khartoum || {{SUD}} || Doctor of Arts in International Affairs || align="center" |1995<ref name = "UN"/> |- | University of Bologna || {{ITA}} || Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations || align="center" |1996<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archiviostorico.unibo.it/it/struttura-organizzativa/sezione-archivio-storico/lauree-honoris-causa/salim-salim-ahmed.asp?IDFolder=333&IDOggetto=18320&LN=IT |title=Lauree Honoris Causa : Salim Salim Ahmed |date= 1996 |publisher= University of Bologna |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> |- | University of Cape Town || {{ZAF}} || Doctor of Laws || align="center" |1998<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uct.ac.za/about/honours/degrees/graduates/ |title=UCT Honours Roll |publisher=University of Cape Town |access-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304034741/http://www.uct.ac.za/about/honours/degrees/graduates/ |archive-date=4 March 2013}}</ref> |- | Addis Ababa University || {{ETH}} || Doctor of Laws || align="center" |2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200308030167.html |title=Over 4,000 Graduate From Addis Ababa University|date= 1 August 2003 |publisher= Addis Tribune via allafrica.com |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> |}

Recipient of the 2006 Martin Luther King "Drum Major for Justice" award.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040805064517/http://havelshouseofhistory.com/Autographs%20of%20Leaders%20of%20the%20UN%20Page%204.htm Presidents of the General Assembly]}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060101230307/http://www.southcentre.org/introduction/salim.htm The South Center – Geneva] * [http://www.kituochakatiba.co.ug/salim.htm East African Center for Constitutional Development] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041130111556/http://www.uneca.org/adf2000/daily_updates/speeches_and_press_releases/120700salim_concluding_remarks.htm Salim's Speech on HIV/AIDS] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061025042834/http://www.africa-union.org/DARFUR/homedar.htm Salim on Darfur] * [http://www.sudaneseonline.com/epressrelease2005/jul6-64419.shtml Press release on Darfur] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051223163854/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/72B9A055-E365-4B26-9C57-535657EA8077.htm AU in Darfur] * [https://nai.uu.se/library/resources/liberation-africa/interviews/salim-ahmed-salim.html Interview with Salim Ahmed Salim by Tor Sellström within the project Nordic Documentation on the Liberation Struggle in Southern Africa] - dated 16 November 1995

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Edward Sokoine}} {{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Tanzania|years=1984–1985}} {{s-aft|after=Joseph Warioba}} |- {{s-bef|before=Benjamin William Mkapa}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | years=1990–1993}} {{s-aft|after=Benjamin William Mkapa}} |- {{s-dip}} {{succession box|before=Indalecio Liévano|title=President of the United Nations General Assembly|years=1979–1980|after=Rüdiger von Wechmar}} {{s-end}} {{TanzaniaPMs}} {{Tanzanian Foreign Ministers}} {{Presidents of the UN General Assembly}} {{African Union Commission chairpersons}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Salim, Salim Ahmed}} Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:People from Mjini Magharibi Region Category:Tanzanian people of Omani descent Category:Tanzanian Muslims Category:Chama Cha Mapinduzi MPs Category:Prime ministers of Tanzania Category:Ministers of defence and national service of Tanzania Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Tanzania Category:Tanzanian MPs 1980–1985 Category:Tanzanian MPs 1985–1990 Category:Delhi University alumni Category:School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University alumni Category:Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly Category:Permanent representatives of Tanzania to the United Nations Category:High commissioners of Tanzania to Barbados Category:High commissioners of Tanzania to Guyana Category:High commissioners of Tanzania to Trinidad and Tobago Category:High commissioners of Tanzania to Jamaica Category:High commissioners of Tanzania to India Category:Ambassadors of Tanzania to Egypt Category:Ambassadors of Tanzania to Cuba Category:Ambassadors of Tanzania to China Category:Commanders of the National Order of Mali Category:Recipients of the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo Category:Knights of the Order of Mono Category:Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Senegal Category:Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Sudan