Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania
Samia Suluhu Hassan is the sixth President of Tanzania and the country’s first female head of state. She ascended to the presidency on 19 March 2021, two days after the death of her predecessor John Magufuli, and was re-elected in the 29 October 2025 general election for a full five-year term. A veteran Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) politician from Zanzibar, she entered frontline national politics as vice-president in 2015 after decades in Zanzibari government. Since 15 February 2025 she has also served as Third Vice-Chairperson of the African Union.
Her presidency arrived on a wave of hope — the so-called “4 Rs” of Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms and Rebuilding — that reversed Magufuli’s COVID denialism and relaxed bans on opposition rallies and independent media. By 2024–2025, however, human rights groups and African observers documented a sharp authoritarian turn culminating in the banning of the main opposition party Chadema from the 2025 election.
Early life and education
Samia Suluhu Hassan was born on 27 January 1960 in Makunduchi, in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, four years before Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika to form Tanzania. Her father was a teacher. She earned an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration from the Institute of Development Management (now Mzumbe University), a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics from the University of Manchester (1994), and a Master’s in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University / Open University of Tanzania.
Rise through Zanzibari and Union politics
Samia began her career in the Ministry of Planning of Zanzibar in the late 1970s, then worked with the World Food Programme. She was elected to the Zanzibar House of Representatives in 2000 and served as a minister for a decade. In 2010 she entered the National Assembly representing Makunduchi with over 80% of the vote, joining the Union cabinet as Minister of State for Union Affairs. In 2014 she vice-chaired the Constituent Assembly drafting a proposed new constitution. In 2015 John Magufuli selected her as his running mate, making her the first female vice-president of Tanzania.
Accession and the “4 Rs”
John Magufuli died on 17 March 2021 (officially from heart complications; many analysts suspect undisclosed COVID-19). Samia was sworn in as president on 19 March 2021 under the constitution’s succession rules. She promptly reversed Magufuli’s COVID-19 denialism, rejoined the COVAX vaccine programme, lifted bans on four newspapers and opposition rallies, and released high-profile detainees including Chadema’s Freeman Mbowe. Her early agenda became known as the “4 Rs” — Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding.
The 2025 general election
Campaigning for her first full five-year term, Samia’s CCM government disqualified main opposition party Chadema from participating after the party refused to sign an electoral code of conduct in April 2025. Chadema’s leader Tundu Lissu was arrested and charged with treason in the same period. On 29 October 2025 Tanzania held presidential and parliamentary elections marred by an internet shutdown, allegations of live ammunition against protesters, and a ballot that gave Samia over 97% of the recorded vote. Post-election protests left scores dead according to opposition and human rights groups. The African Union observer mission said the election “did not comply” with regional standards.
Foreign policy and economy
Samia has prioritized foreign investment and tourism — her “Royal Tour” documentary in 2022, a World Bank pledge of over \$500 million, and the Dubai-based DP World deal at Dar es Salaam port (2023) are emblematic. Tanzania expanded ties with the UAE, Turkey, India and China, while maintaining traditional non-alignment. Her AU role and mediation in eastern DRC, Sudan, and Mozambique raised her continental profile. Domestically, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) with Uganda remains her flagship infrastructure project, despite environmental challenges.
Human rights
Freedom House rates Tanzania “Partly Free” and downgraded it in 2025. Human Rights Watch has documented enforced disappearances of Chadema officials in 2024–2025, restrictions on opposition rallies, and the use of live ammunition during post-election protests. The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition reports over 60 killings and more than 1,000 arbitrary arrests around the 2025 vote.
| Full name | Samia Suluhu Hassan |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 January 1960 · Makunduchi, Zanzibar (age 66) |
| Office | President of Tanzania (6th) |
| In office since | 19 March 2021 (first full term from November 2025) |
| Predecessor | John Magufuli (died in office) |
| Vice President | Emmanuel Nchimbi |
| Prime Minister | Mwigulu Nchemba |
| Party | Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) |
| Spouse | Hafidh Ameir (retired agricultural officer) |
| Children | 4 (including MP Wanu Hafidh Ameir) |
| Education | Mzumbe University · University of Manchester (PGDip) · Open University of Tanzania (MSc) |
| 2025 result | 97%+ reported; Chadema banned from ballot |
| Human rights rating | Freedom House: Partly Free (downgraded 2025) |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the current President of Tanzania in 2026?
Samia Suluhu Hassan has been President of Tanzania since 19 March 2021 and was re-elected for a full five-year term in the 29 October 2025 general election.
How did Samia Suluhu Hassan become president?
She was Vice-President under John Magufuli. When Magufuli died on 17 March 2021, she was sworn in as president two days later under Tanzania’s constitutional succession rules — becoming the country’s first female head of state.
How old is the President of Tanzania?
Samia Suluhu Hassan was born on 27 January 1960 in Makunduchi, Zanzibar, and is 66 years old as of April 2026.
What happened in Tanzania’s 2025 election?
The main opposition party Chadema was banned from participating after refusing to sign an electoral code, its leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason, and election-day violence plus an internet shutdown marked the vote. Samia received over 97% of the reported vote.
Is Tanzania a democracy?
Tanzania is constitutionally a multiparty republic but CCM has ruled continuously since independence. Freedom House downgraded the country to “Partly Free” in 2025 following the banning of Chadema and documented post-election violence.
When does Samia’s current term end?
Her first full five-year term, won in October 2025, runs until 2030. Under Tanzania’s constitution she is eligible for one further term.
What is the “4 Rs” agenda?
Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding — Samia’s early-presidency policy framework that reversed several of Magufuli’s crackdowns on media and opposition and re-engaged with international partners.
John Magufuli, Former President of Tanzania (died on Mar 17, 2021)
He has served in the Cabinet of Tanzania as Minister of Works since 2010. Previously he was Deputy Minister of Works from 1995 to 2000, Minister of Works from 2000 to 2006, Minister of Lands and Human Settlement from 2006 to 2008, and Minister of Livestock and Fisheries from 2008 to 2010. He has served as a Member of Parliament since 1995. He was CCM’s candidate for the 2015 presidential election and was declared the winner of the elections on 29 October 2015 by the National Electoral Commission. His running mate Samia Suluhu, was also declared Vice President elect.he won general election 2015. Magufuli earned his bachelor of science degree in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1988. He also earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in chemistry from the University of Dar es Salaam, in 1994 and 2009, respectively. After President Jakaya Kikwete took office, he moved Magufuli to the post of Minister of Lands and Human Settlement on 4 January 2006. On 12 July 2015 Magufuli was nominated as CCM’s presidential candidate for the 2015 election, besting Justice Minister and former UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro and African Union Ambassador to the United States Amina Salum Ali for the party’s nomination. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Magufuli
H.E Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Former President of Tanzania
Born on 7th October 1950 at Msoga Bagamoyo District Pwani Region Education 1958-1961 – Msoga Primary School 1962-1965 – Lugoba Middle School 1966-1969 – Kibaha Secondary School 1970-1971 – Tanga Secondary School 1972-1975 – BA(Economics) University of Dar es Salaam 1976-1977 – Military Trainingi at Tanzania Military Academy at Monduli 1983-1984 – Military Leadership Training Appointments 1975-1977 – Deputy Regional Secretary of Tanganyika Afrcan National Union (TANU) 1977-1980 – Deputy Secretary of CCM, Zanzibar 1980-1981 – Administrative officer CCM Headquarters 1981-1983 – CCM Regional Secretary Tabora 1983-1986 – Political Tutor at the Tanzania Military Academy in Monduli 1986-1988 – Nachingwea and Masasi Districts CCM Secretary General 1988-1990 – Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Energy and Minerals 1990-1994 – Minister for Energy and Minerals and Water Developments 1994-1995 – Finance Minister 1995-2005 – Member of Parliament Chalinze Constituency 1995-2005 – Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 2005- to date – PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA