The President of Tanzanian John Pombe Magufuli, who was re-elected in November 2020, has passed away at the age of 61. This comes after weeks of speculation that he was infected with COVID-19.
The Vice-President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, announced his death in a live television broadcast and revealed the President died on Wednesday, March 17, from heart complications at a hospital in Dar-es-Salaam.
Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday, March 18th was sworn in as Tanzania President. She will lead for the remainder of Magufuli’s term until 2025. The 61-year-old Vice-President will become the first female President in Tanzania and East Africa. Samia Suluhu Hassan is from the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, which is about 99% Muslim.
She has been vice-president since 2015.
Prior to becoming Vice President, she was a Minister of State under the Vice-President’s office. Hassan also served in the government of Zanzibar in different capacities.
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