Samia Suluhu Hassan | |
|---|---|
_(Suluhu_crop).jpg) Suluhu in 2021 | |
| 6th President of Tanzania | |
| Assumed office 19 March 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Kassim Majaliwa |
| Vice President | Philip Mpango |
| Preceded by | John Magufuli |
| 10th Vice-President of Tanzania | |
| In office 5 November 2015 – 19 March 2021 | |
| President | John Magufuli |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Gharib Bilal |
| Succeeded by | Philip Mpango |
| Minister of State for Union Affairs in the Vice President's Office | |
| In office November 2010 – November 2015 | |
| President | Jakaya Kikwete |
| Preceded by | Muhammed Seif Khatib |
| Succeeded by | January Makamba |
| Member of Parliament for Makunduchi | |
| In office November 2010 – July 2015 | |
| Succeeded by | Ameir Timbe |
| Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment | |
| In office 2005–2010 | |
| President | Amani Karume |
| Preceded by | Mussa Silima |
| Succeeded by | Said Ali Mbarouk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 January 1960 Makunduchi, Sultanate of Zanzibar |
| Political party | Chama Cha Mapinduzi |
| Spouse |
Hafidh Ameir (m. 1978) |
| Children | 4, including Wanu Hafidh Ameir |
| Education | Mzumbe University (AdvDip) University of Manchester (PGDip) Open University of Tanzania (MSc) |
| Signature | .svg) |
Samia Suluhu Hassan (/sɑːmiɑː suluhu hɑːssɑːn/ SAH-mee-ah soo-LOO-hoo HA-san; born 27 January 1960) is a Tanzanian politician who has been serving as president of Tanzania since 19 March 2021. She is the first woman to serve in the position. She previously served as vice-president of Tanzania from 2015 to 2021, from which she ascended to the presidency following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
A native of Zanzibar, Suluhu served as a minister in the semi-autonomous region from 2000 to 2010. She then served as the Member of Parliament for the Makunduchi constituency from 2010 to 2015 and was the Minister of State in the Vice-President's Office for Union Affairs from 2010 to 2015. In 2014, she was elected as the vice-chairperson of the Constituent Assembly tasked with the drafting of the country's new constitution. Suluhu became Tanzania's first female vice-president following the 2015 general election, after being elected on the Chama Cha Mapinduzi ticket with Magufuli. Suluhu and Magufuli were re-elected to a second term in 2020.
As president, Suluhu has implemented democratic reforms, reversing the policies of her predecessor that were implemented to repress political opposition. She also implemented policies to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania, which Magufuli had denied was a serious issue. Other focuses of her presidency have included the expansion of infrastructure and the globalisation of the Tanzanian economy through investors and tourism.