TPDF History
To better understand the TPDF, one must appreciate how the TPDF sees itself. The TPDF was established in 1964 after the disbandment of the Tanganyika rifles in response to a mutiny. From its inception it was ingrained in the soldiers of the TPDF that they were a people's force under civilian control, and since that time Tanzania has enjoyed relative peace both within its borders and with its neighbors. Only once in its history has the TPDF been involved in a war, and that was in 1978 when an Idi Amin-led Uganda invaded the Kagera Region of Tanzania. Tanzania then invaded Uganda and overthrew Idi Amin.
Furthermore, the TPDF played a large role in supporting and training the southern African freedom movements. In the 1970s Tanzania was the home of the African National Congress (ANC), and the TPDF provided military training and assistance to freedom fighters from South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s many Ugandans, to include President Yoweri Museveni, lived in Tanzania. The TPDF also participated in the training of the New Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army, and DRC President Joseph Kabila attended primary school in Tanzania. Furthermore, beginning in the 1970s, Tanzania welcomed several hundred thousands of refugees due to conflicts in the Great Lakes Region and Mozambique.
The TPDF's past colors its perspective in many ways. First, the TPDF is rightly proud of its history as a professional military. The TPDF is proud of its role as a guarantor of national security, and is firmly committed to civilian control of the military. Second, the TPDF is proud of the historical role it played in providing military training and assistance to the freedom movements of many of its neighbors. It is this historical legacy with the SADC countries that is primarily responsible for the TPDF's participation in the AU's Southern Stand-by Brigade instead of its Eastern Brigade (EASBRIG). Third, the TPDF sees involvement in regional PKO missions as a natural extension of its historical role in providing training and assistance to neighboring African countries.
Finally, as a by-product of Tanzania's status as a member of the non-aligned and front line states, the TPDF has close historical ties with both China and the Former Soviet Union; many of the TPDF's senior officers were and continue to be trained in China or Russia. This historical link affects not only the TPDF's perspective towards engagement with the US, but also its military culture.
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