It’s plausible to state that the ascendance of John Magufuli to the highest office in his homeland has calmed some troubled waters in East Africa. In fact, some of my evangelical friends say his ascent was engineered by God while traditionalists would claim it’s our gods.

Evidentially, conflict resolution trackers and experts would say that, on at least one measure, Magufuli’s election has reduced the possibility of violent conflict and therefore contributed to peace.

That measure and indeed indicator is improving his country’s relation with Rwanda — through his words, demeanour and appearances. President Paul Kagame has responded in kind without even mentioning previous feuds that had put the two countries on a war of words.

Former Tanzania president Jakaya Kikwete had suggested in 2013 that Kigali should negotiate with FDLR rebels. Some feared that if Kikwete was passing on his Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) position, the worst could follow as Kigali made it clear it will never talk to genocidares. Optimists saw the proposal as that of a lone powerbroker that would die once its originator was out of office.

It seems the optimists were right, at least going by the “cozy diplomacy” shown by the two leaders.

So what is cozy diplomacy and how has it helped kill the Kigali-Dar feud?

For me, cozy diplomacy is where two or more members of the same or different houses (read nations), suddenly start smiling at each other, frequently visit with notable gifts and complement each other.

It’s diplomacy informed by, after a fight and without reference to it, parties effortlessly relating, seeming eager to please each other, and offering unprompted complements. It may emanate from genuine individual connection to each other or planned to advance substantive interests.

To understand how this diplomacy has repaired the two nations’ relations, just look at the period between the day Magufuli was sworn-in as president and April 6 when he visited Rwanda.

At his swearing-in ceremony, the man some can call the “Anti-Corruption President” was seen jovially extending both his hands to greet President Kagame to what the Tanzanian media called the “loudest applause” of the day from attendees, including Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

And, three weeks ago, Magufuli was in Kigali where he participated in activities to remember victims of the Tutsi genocide and the spirit of NEVER AGAIN.
Revealingly, this was the first foreign trip the man has taken since assuming office about six months ago.

Considering that at the time he took office his country wasn’t on good terms with Rwanda, and that Magufuli isn’t known to fancy unnecessary travels — having skipped AU meetings in South Africa and later Ethiopia — the trip to Rwanda is full of symbolic meaning.

Beyond the visit, the words exchanged and the demeanour between the two men reveal a certain connection that suggests a move beyond yester quarrel. For instance, at the Kigali dinner organised in Magufuli’s honour, one could see the doyens smilingly engaged.

About three weeks earlier, a journalist friend with a nose for good stories posted photos of the two men emerging from a meeting holding hands at the sidelines of the EAC meeting held in Arusha.

While it isn’t common for heads of State — especially those from nations with unresolved problems — to be seen moving about happily holding hands, from the images, one could see security men from both sides inquisitively and even worriedly staring at the hand holding their charge.

And, of course, about a month before Magufuli visited Kigali, President Kagame had, at the 13th Leadership Retreat on March 12, talked about the Tanzanian president in ways presidents normally don’t, unless they genuinely admire the other and their nations at peace.

Angry at his ministers’ unnecessary costly foreign trips, Kagame reportedly told the more than 2,500 officials attending the leadership retreat that on fighting this vice, Magufuli was more courageous than him and revealed: “I am [now] counting my losses [and]…learning from him.”

And since, presidents aren’t in the habit of praising counterparts from unfriendly countries nor learning from them, I can state, with a level of certainty, that unless something dramatic happens, Kigali and Dar’s disagreement is now unceremoniously buried.

Dr Christopher Kayumba, PhD, is a senior lecturer at the School of Journalism and Communication, the University of Rwanda, and lead consultant at MGC Consult International Ltd, Kay Plaza Building, Kimoronko Road, E-mail: [email protected] ; Twitter: @Ckayumba; Website: www.mgcconsult.com