Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo (MP) was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, on 21st July 2024, and sworn in on 27th July 2024. Prior to this appointment, he was serving as the Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Republic of Italy in Rome, and a Non-Resident Ambassador to Malta, Serbia and Croatia; with accreditation to the United Nations Agencies Based in Rome (FAO, WFP, and IFAD). The position he held from 21st July 2021 to 21st July, 2024.Before joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Kombo had previously served in the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar as the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Sports (2005 -2010); Minister of Health (2014 – 2018); and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage (2018 – 2020).Ambassador Kombo entered politics in 1985 as a Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Youth Wing member and later worked in several capacities within the party. He was a member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives from 2005 until 2020, representing Mpendae and Kiembesamaki Constituencies. Ambassador Kombo has extensive expertise and experience in both the public and private sectors, specializing in ICT and telecommunications engineering. He has held several managerial and leadership positions in these sectors and served on several boards and associations. Ambassador Kombo holds a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations (Switzerland); and Bachelor of Arts Degree in computing and business administration from the University of Sunderland (United Kingdom).
