Following the death of President John Magufuli, Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as Tanzania’s first female president. The 61-year-old took the oath at a low-key ceremony, vowing to uphold the constitution. She described the day as one of profound mourning, not celebration, declaring a 21-day period of grief for her predecessor.
President Hassan assured the nation that “nothing shall go wrong,” urging unity and collective effort to build the future Tanzania that Magufuli aspired to. She will serve the remainder of Magufuli’s term, which lasts until 2025. Her inauguration places her as one of only two current female heads of state in Africa, alongside Ethiopia’s president. Having risen through a 20-year political career, she now faces the task of consolidating her leadership.
