Samia Suluhu Hassan: The Quiet Force Reshaping Tanzania

When Samia Suluhu Hassan took the oath of office in March 2021, she became Tanzania’s first woman president and the first Zanzibari to lead the United Republic. She assumed power during a pandemic and after the sudden death of President John Magufuli, inheriting a deeply polarised polity and an economy that had lost momentum. Four years on, she has consolidated power, overseen a rebound in economic growth, and positioned Tanzania as a more open and collaborative player in East Africa. As Tanzanians debate the significance of her 2025 re‑election, her calm, reformist style and emphasis on inclusive growth have started to reshape the nation’s trajectory.

From Zanzibar to State House: Biography and Political Journey

Born in Makunduchi, Zanzibar, on 27 January 1960, Samia Suluhu studied public administration at the Institute of Development Management (now Mzumbe University) and obtained a post‑graduate diploma in economics from the University of Manchester in 1994. She worked for the UN World Food Programme and entered politics in 2000 when she was elected to the Zanzibar House of Representatives. As Minister for Gender, Children and Social Development and later Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investment, she championed women’s rights and youth employment.

Suluhu joined the national parliament in 2010 and served as Minister of State in the Vice‑President’s Office, overseeing union affairs between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. In 2015, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) selected her as running mate to John Magufuli, making her the country’s first female vice‑president. She unexpectedly ascended to the presidency on 19 March 2021 after Magufuli’s death.

Her early actions signalled a break with the previous administration. She resumed COVID‑19 data reporting to the World Health Organization, launched a nationwide vaccination programme, reopened the country to international cooperation, and allowed pregnant girls and young mothers to return to school. These moves hinted at a pragmatic leader prioritising public health, international trust, and women’s rights.

Reforms and Achievements

Economic Revival and Infrastructure Investment

Tanzania’s economy stagnated during the pandemic, but growth rebounded to 5.5 % in 2024 after slowing to 3.9 % in 2021. Exports rose from US$6.39 billion in 2021 to US$8.7 billion in 2024, foreign reserves climbed to US$5.6 billion, and nominal GDP expanded from TSh 156.4 trillion to TSh 205.84 trillion over the same period. The finance minister and central bank governor told the IMF that growth would reach about 6 % in 2025, though they flagged risks from regional conflicts and commodity price volatility. Inflation remained below 5 %, and per‑capita income increased to TSh 2.94 million

Energy and infrastructure have been a centrepiece of Suluhu’s agenda. She promised to double electricity generation to 8,000 MW by 2030, up from around 1,600 MW in 2020 and 4,000 MW in 2025. Her administration connected 360 villages and 189 urban neighbourhoods to the grid and prioritised rural electrification. Large projects such as the Julius Nyerere hydropower plant, the Standard Gauge Railway, and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system have continued under her watch, while roads, ports, and airport improvements form part of Tanzania’s push to become a regional logistics hub.

Agriculture and Youth Empowerment