Samia Suluhu Hassan has created history as she becomes the first female President of the United Republic of Tanzania. She was sworn in as the 6th President of Tanzania and the Head of State in the East Africa Community, succeeding President John Pombe Magufuli, who died of a long illness in Dar es Salaam.
On 17 March 2021, Suluhu made a public announcement of John Magufuli’s unfortunate death. She was sworn in as his successor on 19th March 2021 and will serve the remainder of Magufuli’s second five-year term. Upon her swearing-in, she also became the second Zanzibari to hold the post.
Born on 27th January 1960, Suluhu hails from Makunduchi, an old town in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. After completing her secondary education, she gained an advanced diploma in public administration from the Mzumbe University (formerly known as the Institute of Development Management). She also worked on a World Food Program project in Tanzania. Between 1992 and 1994, she attended the University of Manchester in London, where she got a postgraduate diploma in Economics. She also obtained her MSc in Community Economics Development from the Open University of Tanzania.
Suluhu started her political career in the year 2000 when she was elected as a special seat member to the Zanzibar House of Representatives. After 10 years of continuous service,
she was elected to the National Assembly on mainland Tanzania. Then, President Jakaya Kikwete appointed her as the Minister of State for Union Affairs.
On 5th December 2015, she became the first female Vice President of Tanzania. Subsequently with John Mugufuli taking the position of the President of Tanzania. Both John Magufuli and Suluhu were re-elected for a second five-year term in the year 2020.
The Wakandi team extends warm congratulations and enduring support to Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan as she embarks upon the journey to lead the people of Tanzania. We look forward to working under her leadership. We hope her honesty and rationality would be pivotal towards achieving sustainable development and taking the country forward.