Africa Day Marathon To Unite Diplomats And Athletics Stars In Dar

Ambassadors from various countries represented in Tanzania are expected to participate in the Africa Day Marathon scheduled for May 23, 2026 in Dar es Salaam, in a major event aimed at promoting African unity, supporting access to clean water for communities, and raising the standards of athletics in Tanzania ahead of international competitions.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation in collaboration with the African Diplomatic Group (ADG), and will also feature some of Tanzania’s top athletes including Tanzania marathon star Gabriel Geay, world marathon medalist Alphonce Simbu, as well as last year’s 10KM champion Benjamin Ferdinand.

According to the President of Athletics Tanzania (AT), Rogath John, the race will serve as an important preparation platform for Tanzanian athletes ahead of the Commonwealth Games set to take place in July in England. He said the competition will help athletes improve their performance and readiness for international events.

The marathon will feature 5KM and 10KM races, with attractive prizes set for winners in the 10KM category for both men and women. The winner will receive TSh 2 million, second place TSh 1.5 million, third place TSh 1 million, while fourth place will walk away with TSh 500,000.

The main objective of the event is to raise funds for water projects in communities while also using sports as a tool to strengthen African solidarity. This year’s theme is “One Continent, One Purpose,” emphasizing unity and social development through sports.

Now in its third season, the Africa Day Marathon also serves as a remembrance of Africa Liberation Day. Tanzania under the leadership of its first President Julius Nyerere was among the countries at the forefront of fighting for African independence alongside iconic leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta.