DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – In a move that significantly expands U.S. security cooperation in East Africa, military leaders from the Nebraska National Guard and the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces officially formalized their partnership on March 12.

The historic ceremony, held in Dar Es Salaam, centered on the signing of a formal letter of intent by General Jacob John Mkunda, Chief of Defence Forces for the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces and Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard. The agreement marks Tanzania’s official entry into the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, a relationship that has been developing since early 2024.

The proceedings were overseen by several high-ranking officials, including Tanzania Minister of Defence Rhimo Nyansaho, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Andrew Lentz and senior military and civilian leaders from both nations.

“It is a great privilege welcoming you [the U.S. delegation] here,” said Nyansaho, who holds a doctorate in business economics. “This ceremony represents a significant milestone in the continuing relationship between our two countries and militaries.”

Lentz emphasized that the day represented more than a bureaucratic milestone.

“Today, we don’t just sign a document – we strengthen a friendship and forge a partnership that will benefit our nations for years to come,” Lentz said. “The fact that we are here today, that we signed the agreement, that the minister and generals are present among these many witnesses, is proof that we have succeeded. We are now ready to move forward together, making our countries safer, stronger and more prosperous.”

Lentz said that, while security is the primary focus, the “Nebraska connection” offers unique opportunities for collaboration with the state’s leading institutions in agriculture, health research and higher education.

The formal signing is the culmination of years of groundwork, including the Justified Accord exercises of 2025 and 2026, and a senior-level visit to Nebraska by Tanzanian officials in May 2025.

For Strong, the partnership is already bearing fruit. Prior to the ceremony, Strong visited various sites where Nebraska and Tanzanian personnel already were working in tandem.

“It is my firm belief that all successful partnerships must be based upon shared respect, shared commitments and shared friendship,” Strong said. “I have seen this firsthand over the past two days as I’ve visited Lugalo Military Hospital and seen our doctors working side by side to treat Tanzanian citizens, and as I traveled to Msata Military Training Base, where our soldiers are sharing best practices to hone tactical skills.”

Strong pointed out that both Nebraska and Tanzania face similar hurdles in emergency management, disaster response, military preparedness, modernization, public health and regional security.

“Through these efforts, we will continue to be stronger together,” Strong added, using the Swahili phrase: “Nguvu kwa pamoja.”

The State Partnership Program is a Department of Defense initiative that has been building international relations for more than 30 years. Managed by the National Guard Bureau and guided by State Department foreign policy, the program includes 107 partnerships with 116 nations.

Tanzania is now the third official partner for the Nebraska National Guard, which has participated in the State Partnership Program since its earliest days, when it was selected, along with the Texas National Guard, to develop a partnership with the Czech Republic in 1993.

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) -Some rain can be expected in parts the state later this week, but according to one of the 10 weekly contributors to the U.S. Drought Monitor, it won’t be enough to completely turn around the effects of current dry conditions in the region.

Curtis Riganti is a climatologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s National Drought Mitigation Center and helps analyze data sets ranging from precipitation amount to vegetation health to publish the drought map each Thursday. He says unusually warm and windy conditions have led to significant drought conditions across the central and southern Great Plains.

The latest map from March 26 shows that majority of Nebraska is currently in at least severe drought, which Riganti says has helped create conditions perfect for stoking recent central Nebraska fires.

“As we’ve gone in to early spring now we’ve seen a continuation of those warm, windy conditions and dry weather for the most part,” he said. “That’s been particularly bad over the past few weeks. That’s unfortunately led to very favorable conditions for wildfire growth, which we’ve seen.”

Riganti added that a lack of snow in the Rocky Mountains is also contributing to drought conditions, and could result in less water running downstream into Nebraska this spring and summer.

As a reminder, you can always help out with the U.S. drought monitor by reporting conditions to their online database at go.unl.edu/cmor

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Nebraska baseball (22-6, 8-1) wrapped up its conference series with Indiana (10-17, 3-9) on Sunday. The Huskers posted 12 runs for the second-straight game, taking down the Hoosiers 12-4 to sweep the series.

After Indiana scored two runs in the top of the first and also tied the game at three in the sixth, Nebraska proceeded to outscore the Hoosiers 9-1. Many of the Huskers’ runs occurred in the seventh, where they scored eight runs to go up 12-3. The team finished with 16 hits and a walk for 11 RBIs.

Dylan Carey led the way, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs. He delivered a grand slam in the seventh, putting the game away. Carey also set the all-time record in Nebraska history for career doubles with 56.

Rhett Stokes batted 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two doubles. Mac Moyer hit 2-for-5 with two RBIs and scored twice. Jett Buck finished 2-for-4, earning two RBIs off a double and a solo home run. Joshua Overbeek ended the day 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored. Jeter Worthley batted 2-for-4 with a double and scored one run.