Ali Abeid Karume

Ali Abeid Amani Karume (born May 24, 1950), Tanzanian Ambassador to Italy and Dean of Tanzania Ambassadors, is a Tanzanian diplomat. He is the son of Zanzibar's first president, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume and a member of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party since its inception in 1977.

Karume was schooled at Tumekuja Secondary School and later at the Lumumba College in Zanzibar until 1969. He started his career as Special Assistant to the General Manager of ZSTC Zanzibar (1969–1970). He was later promoted to Managing Director of ZSTC where he held the position for two years from 1970–1972. From 1972–1978, Karume held the position of Deputy Minister, Ministry of Trade and Industry in the Zanzibar Government. In 1978, Karume took a leave of absence for advanced studies in the U.S.A.

In 1984, Karume graduated from Columbia University, then entered government service.

A year after graduation, Karume joined the Tanzania Foreign Service and began eight years of service as Minister Plenipotentiary in Brussels, Belgium from 1985–1989 and as Deputy Ambassadorto the United States of America (U.S.A) in Washington DC, U.S.A from 1989–1993.

He was Ambassador and Director for Europe and Americas Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 1993 to 1996. He was then appointed by President Benjamin William Mkapa as Ambassador to Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux) and The European Union (E.U) where he served from 1996–2002. From 2002–2006, Karume served as Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland and Poland with concurrent accreditation to the Holy See- Vatican, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

In July 2006, Ambassador Karume was appointed by President Kikwete as Ambassador to Italy, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.

Karume received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science, double major, and a MSc.- Master of Science (Magna cum laude) degree in Business Administration from Columbia University in New York, NY, U.S.A.

Karume is married and has four adult children.

From 2018–presentMinister of Youth, Culture and Sports of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar From 2015 - 2018Minister of Infrastructure of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. From 2006Ambassador to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, and Croatia; High Commissioner to Cyprus and Dean of Tanzania Ambassadors

2002 - 2006Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland and Poland with concurrent accreditation to the Holy See, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria - Berlin, Germany

1996 - 2002Ambassador to Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux) and The European Union (E.U) - Brussels, Belgium

1993 - 1996Ambassador and Director for Europe and Americas Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation - Dar es Salaam

1989 - 1993Deputy Ambassador to the United States of America (U.S.A) Embassy of Tanzania - Washington, D.C, U.S.A

1985 - 1989Minister Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Tanzania - Brussels, Belgium

1972 - 1978Deputy Minister, Ministry of Trade and Industry - Zanzibar

Additional Professional Activities

Tanzania Delegate to the World Bank, IMF and USAID - Washington, D.C, U.S.A

Chief Delegate to the ACP - Brussels, Belgium

Chief Delegate to the OPCW - The Hague, Netherlands

Chairman ACP Sub-Committee on Finance and Administration - Brussels, Belgium

Chairman ACP Sub-Committee on Agriculture and Commodities - Brussels, Belgium

Chairman Committee of OAU Ambassadors - Brussels, Belgium, 1996–1997

Chairman of SADC Ambassadors - Berlin, Germany, 2003–2004

Chairman ICAC - International Cotton Advisory Committee - Washington DC

Chairman IIC - International Institute for Cotton - Brussels, Belgium

Member of CCM since its inception in 1977

Member of ASP since 1970