Samia Suluhu Hassan

Samia Suluhu Hassan
Suluhu in 2021
6th President of Tanzania
Assumed office
19 March 2021
Prime MinisterKassim Majaliwa
Vice PresidentPhilip Mpango
Preceded byJohn Magufuli
10th Vice-President of Tanzania
In office
5 November 2015 – 19 March 2021
PresidentJohn Magufuli
Preceded byMohamed Gharib Bilal
Succeeded byPhilip Mpango
Minister of State for Union Affairs in the Vice President's Office
In office
November 2010 – November 2015
PresidentJakaya Kikwete
Preceded byMuhammed Seif Khatib
Succeeded byJanuary Makamba
Member of Parliament
for Makunduchi
In office
November 2010 – July 2015
Succeeded byAmeir Timbe
Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment
In office
2005–2010
PresidentAmani Karume
Preceded byMussa Silima
Succeeded bySaid Ali Mbarouk
Personal details
Born (1960-01-27) 27 January 1960 (age 64)
Makunduchi, Sultanate of Zanzibar
Political partyChama Cha Mapinduzi
Spouse
Hafidh Ameir
(m. 1978)
Children4, including Wanu Hafidh Ameir
EducationMzumbe University (AdvDip)
University of Manchester (PGDip)
Open University of Tanzania (MSc)
Signature

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.