Reading the news this morning I was not surprised to hear little about the Olympic torch and its passage through Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. However, what DID strike me was some of the information found while reading an article from the AFP:

The five-kilometre-relay, which took place amid heavy downpour in this Indian Ocean city, ended at the Chinese-built National Stadium without any incident or breach of security.

Interesting, isn’t it? That China has such an influence in the city and the torch passes without so much as a single protest?!

Not only that, but:

Tanzania, long a socialist country with close ties to the eastern Communist bloc, enjoys excellent relations with China since diplomatic ties were established in 1964.

The Asian giant, which has an aggressive economic policy on the mineral-rich continent, is a major investor in the east African nation’s fledgling economy.

Bilateral trade stood at 794 million dollars (500 million euros) in 2007, close to a 50 percent increase from the previous year.

President Jakaya Kikwete is currently on a four-day state visit to China and the flame was met at the airport by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda late Saturday. It will then be flown Oman less than 24 hours later.

Interesting, eh?