Salim Ahmed Salim Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Salim hamad Salim
سلیم احمد سلیم
Salim in 2010

7th secretary general of the Organisation of African Unity
In office 19 September 1989 – 17 September 2001
Preceded by	Ide Oumarou
Succeeded by	Amara Essy
Minister of Defense and National Service
In office 1985–1989
President	Ali Hassan Mwinyi
Prime Minister of Tanzania
In office 24 April 1984 – 5 November 1985
President	Julius Nyerere
Preceded by	Edward Sokoine
Succeeded by	Joseph Warioba
8th Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office 1981–1984
Preceded by	Benjamin Mkapa
Succeeded by	Benjamin Mkapa
Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations
In office 1970–1980
President	Julius Nyerere

Personal details
Born	salimu hamadi salimu (1942-01-23) 23 January 1942 (age 83)
Nationality	Tanzania
Children	12 3 Maryam Ali Ahmed
Alma mater	University of Delhi SIPA, Columbia (MIA)
Committees	Chair, Mo Ibrahim Prize selection committee
Positions	Chancellor, HKMU Chair, MNF

Salim Ahmed Salim (born January 23, 1942) is a well-known Tanzanian politician and diplomat. He has worked in international relations since the 1960s. He also served as the Prime Minister of Tanzania from 1984 to 1985.

Early Life and Background
Education and Early Activism
Roles in Tanzania
Diplomatic Work Around the World
Awards and Recognition
See also

Early Life and Background

Salim was born in what was then called the Sultanate of Zanzibar. His father, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Riyami, was of Omani descent. His mother was Tanzanian, with both Arab and African heritage.

Education and Early Activism

Salim studied at Lumumba College in Zanzibar. He then went to St. Stephen's College at the University of Delhi for his first degree. Later, he earned his master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.

He was a student activist in the 1950s. He helped start and became the first Vice President of the All-Zanzibar Student Union.

Roles in Tanzania

Salim Ahmed Salim held many important jobs in Tanzania:

Chief editor of a Zanzibar newspaper (1963–1964)
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 for Defence and National Service (1986–1989)
President of the Julius K. Nyerere Foundation (2001 – present)
Member of the Central Committee of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Tanzania's main political party.
Member of the Tanzania Commission for Constitution Review (2012–2014)

Diplomatic Work Around the World

Salim also held many important diplomatic roles for Tanzania:

Deputy chief representative of the Zanzibar Office in Havana, Cuba (1961–1962)
Tanzanian Ambassador to Egypt (1964–1965)
Tanzanian High Commissioner (Ambassador) to India (1965–1968)
Tanzanian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (1969–1970)
Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations (1970–1980)
Tanzanian Ambassador to Cuba (1970–1980), while also at the UN.
Tanzanian High Commissioner to Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago (1970–1980), while also at the UN.
Secretary-General of the OAU (1989–2001)
African Union special envoy for the Darfur Conflict (2004–2008)

His Work at the United Nations

Salim Ahmed Salim played a big part in the United Nations (UN):

June/July 1972: Chairman of the UN Special Mission to Niue.
August 1972: Part of the Drafting Committee for the Ministerial Conference of non-Aligned States.
1972 to 1980: Chairman of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization. This committee helped countries gain independence.
April 1973: Chairman of a committee at a conference supporting victims of colonialism and apartheid.
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 several sessions.
1981: President of the International Conference on Sanctions against South Africa.
1984: President of the Paris International Conference Against Apartheid.

Trying to Become UN Secretary-General

In 1981, Salim Ahmed Salim wanted to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations. He ran against Kurt Waldheim, who was already serving. Salim had strong support from African and non-aligned countries. China also supported him.

However, the United States did not want Salim to be Secretary-General. They saw him as too critical of their policies. The Soviet Union also opposed him.

The election was very close and went on for 16 rounds of voting over six weeks. Neither side would give in. In the end, both Salim and Waldheim decided to step down. This allowed other candidates to be chosen.

In 1996, Salim was considered for the role again. The US wanted him, but France said they would not support him. So, he was not nominated.

Other Important Diplomatic Roles

Salim has also worked on many other international projects:

He became the African Water Ambassador in 2002. In this role, he helps raise awareness and support for water issues in Africa.
He is Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa.
He chairs the International Board of Trustees for Africa Humanitarian Action (AHI).
He is a member and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Trustees for the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance at Africa University.
He is a member of the Panel of the Wise, a group that advises the African Union.

On a global level, Salim serves on several important boards and commissions:

Co-chair of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Member of the Board at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. This group supports good leadership in Africa. Salim also chairs the committee for the Ibrahim Prize.
Member of the Global Leadership Foundation. This group helps support democratic leadership and solve conflicts.
Member of the Board of the South Centre.
Member of the Policy Advisory Commission for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Member of the Foundation Council for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Eminent Member of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.

Awards and Recognition

Salim Ahmed Salim has received many honors and awards for his work.

Honors

	Country	Year
Order of the Star of Africa	Liberia	1980
Order of the United Republic of Tanzania	Tanzania	1985
National Order of a Thousand Hills	Rwanda	1993
Grand Cross of the Order of Devotion	Republic of the Congo	1994
Order of Merit (Grand Officer)	Central African Republic	1994
Medal of Africa	Libyan Arab Jamahiriya	1999
National Order of the Lion (Grand Officer)	Senegal	2000
Order of the Two Niles	Sudan	2001
Ordre El-Athir	Algeria	2001
Order of Mono	Togo	2001
National Order of Mali (Commander)	Mali	2001
Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (Gold)	South Africa	2004
Order of the Uhuru Torch (Second Class)	Tanzania	2011
Order of Friendship	China	2019
Order of Amilcar Cabral (First Class)	Cape Verde	2023

Awards

2014: Son of Africa Award by the African Union.
2006: Martin Luther King "Drum Major for Justice" award.

Honorary Degrees

Salim has also received special degrees from many universities around the world:

University	Country	Degree	Year
University of the Philippines Los Baños	Philippines	Doctor of Laws	1980
University of Maiduguri	Nigeria	Doctor of Humanities	1983
University of Mauritius	Mauritius	Doctor of Civil Law	1991
University of Khartoum	Sudan	Doctor of Arts in International Affairs	1995
University of Bologna	Italy	Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations	1996
University of Cape Town	South Africa	Doctor of Laws	1998
Addis Ababa University	Ethiopia	Doctor of Laws	2003