Unlocking History: The Salim Ahmed Salim Digital Archive Celebrates One-Year with Exclusive New Content
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim Digital Archive (SAS Digital Archive) marks its first anniversary with the release of never-before-seen materials, offering unprecedented insights into one of Africa’s most influential diplomats. This significant milestone further cements the Archive’s mission to preserve Dr. Salim’s legacy and enhance its standing as a global hub for scholars and history enthusiasts.
The Archive unveiled newly digitized, never-before-seen content, including personal notes from pivotal meetings with African leaders like President Hassan Gouled Aptidon of Djibouti, President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. At the heart of this collection is exclusive insight into the Ethiopia-Eritrea war over Badme, which erupted in May 1998.
One of Dr. Salim’s personal notes on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute reveals the immense challenges and complex diplomacy he navigated during the Badme war. In a gripping exchange, Ambassador David Shinn of the United States sought Dr. Salim's intervention on a separate matter relating to General Sani Abacha of Nigeria, urging him to spare the lives of coup plotters. This moment offers a rare glimpse into the high-stakes, behind-the-scenes diplomacy Dr. Salim had to grapple with:
“It would be a costly mistake for Nigeria if those condemned were to be executed. If General Abacha is hoping as people claim, to make himself the next President of Nigeria, it would send such a wrong signal if the first action he took as a civilian President would be to execute those people. I will try my best to ensure that the people are not executed.”
Since its launch in 2023, the SAS Digital Archive has attracted over 18,000 users from the U.S., Europe, and Africa, becoming a key resource for scholars and history enthusiasts exploring Tanzania’s role in global diplomacy. Looking ahead, the Archive aims to expand its partnerships with institutions like Columbia University and the Salim Ahmed Salim Center for Foreign Relations to foster dialogue on leadership, governance, and Africa’s role in global affairs.
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Explore the new content below:
- A Meeting with President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea on the Badme War (1998)
- A Meeting with President Hassan Gouled Aptidon of Djibouti on Ethiopia-Eritrea War (1998)
- A Discussion with the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) Delegation in Arusha (1994)
- Second Meeting with the OAU High Level Mission with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia (1998)
- Report on the Regional Summit Meeting on Rwanda and Burundi (1994)
- Correspondence to Boutros Boutros Ghali from Dr. Salim on the Situation on Rwanda (1994)
- Correspondence to President Ali Hassan Mwinyi from Dr. Salim on the Activities of the Neutral Military Observer Group in Rwanda (1991)
- Correspondence to Dr. Salim from Boutros Boutros Ghali on the Rwanda genocide (1994)
- Secretary General Briefing to the Central Organ Members of the OAU on the Border Dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia (1998)
- Meeting with US Ambassador David Shinn on Ethiopia-Eritrea War (1998)
