Tanzania swears in new president Samia Suluhu Hassan




Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn-in as Tanzania’s President following the death of John Magufuli. At exactly 10:15 am on Friday, Samia Suluhu Hassan took oath of office at State House Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Those in attendance included former President Jakaya Kikwete.

The 61-year-old leader described as a soft-spoken, Samia Suluhu Hassan is poised to be the country’s first female president and the first to be born in Zanzibar, the archipelago that forms part of the union of the Republic of Tanzania.



Samia will succeed President John Magufuli who died on Wednesday. According to a statement by Tanzania State House spokesman, Hassan will then address the nation and chair her first Cabinet meeting. Samia Suluhu will serve the remaining term of Magufuli which started last October when he was re-elected. Samia Suluhu has been Magufuli’s deputy since 2015. Samia is expected to nominate a Vice President from the mainland given that she comes from Zanzibar, in line with the Tanzanian Constitution.