Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in as the new president of the United Republic of Tanzania to replace the fallen president, John Pombe Magufuli who succeeded Jakaya Kikwete.

“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” declared the soft-spoken leader, dressed in a black suit and red headscarf before dignitaries at a ceremony in Dar es Salaam.

The former Tanzanian Vice President now becomes the first Tanzanian female head of state, and the entire East African bloc. Suhulu will serve until 2025.

The newly sworn in President of Tanzania is currently among the only two females out of  the 54 Presidents in Africa, the other being Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia from October 2018.

Sahle-Work Zewde is the first elected female President of Ethiopia and currently among the only two females out of  the 54 Presidents in Africa.

Suluhu pronounced her predecessor, Magufuli dead on Wednesday.

Appearing live on TV, she said that Mr Magufuli died on Wednesday at 6pm from heart complication, at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Born in 1959, Magufuli was 61 years old.

Magufuli had just been re-elected as president in November last year and after his death, according to the Tanzanian constitution, the vice President, Samia Suhulu was to take over to lead for the remainder of Magufuli’s term until 2025.

Suluhu also became Tanzania’s first female vice-president following the 2015 general election, after being elected on the CCM ticket, along with President Magufuli. Suluhu and Magufuli were reelected to a second term in 2020.

Before her tenure as vice-president she served as the Member of Parliament for Makunduchi constituency from 2010 to 2015, and was also the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office for Union Affairs from 2010 to 2015.

Prior to this, she served as a minister in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, during the administration of President Amani Karume. In 2014, she was elected as the Vice Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly tasked with the drafting of the country’s new constitution.

Other African National Women Leaders;

Slyvie Kiningi, Acting President of Burundi  (February – October 1993)

The first female President in Africa was Slyvie Kiningi. She was the Prime Minister of Burundi from February 10, 1993 to October 7, 1994. During this period, she served as the acting President of the country from October 27, 1993 to February 5, 1994 when the incumbent President Melchior Ndadaye was shot together with 6 of his officials. After his death, Kiningi gathered 15 ministers to continue to govern the country. Thus, technically making her the first female president on the continent.

Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi, Acting President of South Africa (September 2005)

Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi also served temporarily as the acting President of South Africa when the President and his vice were out of the country for four days in September of 2005. She was also selected by the cabinet to serve as the constitutional and official head of state for an interim period of 14 hours on September 25, 2008. This was the period between the resignation of the current President Thabo Mbeki and the taking of office by the Kgalema Motlanthe.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia ( January 2006 – January 2018)

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first elected President who served two consecutive terms after winning the 2005 and 2011 Presidential elections. She had initially run for Presidential office in 1997 against Charles Taylor, but she lost. During her tenure she was also elected Chair of the Economic Community of West African States in June of 2016.

Rose Francine Rogombe, Interim President of Gabon (June 2009 – October 2009)

Rose Francine Rogombe served as interim President of Gabon from June 2009 to October 2009 after the death of President of Omar Bongo. As President of the Senate at that time, she automatically became the Head of State because she was constitutionally  the first in line for presidential succession.

Agnes Monique Ohsan Bellepeau, Acting President of Mauritius (March – July 2012 and May –  June 2015)

Agnes Monique Ohsan Bellepeau was the Acting President of Mauritius from March 31, 2012 – July 21, 2012. This was the transition period between the resignation of the current President Anerood Jugnauth to the inauguration of the new President Kailash Purryag. She served again as Acting President between the resignation of Purryag and the inauguration of the new President, Ameenah Gurib from May 29, 2015 – June 5, 2015.

Joyce Hilda Banda, President of Malawi (April 2012 – May 2014)

Joyce Hilda Banda served as President of Malawi from April 7, 2012 to May 31, 2014 following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. She was the country’s fourth President. She was also the country’s first female Vice President (May 2009 to April 2012). In 2014, Forbes named President Banda as the 40th most powerful woman in the world and the most powerful woman in Africa.

Catherine Samba, Acting President of Central African Republic (January 2014 – March 2016)

Catherine Samba Panza was the Acting Head of State of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016. She became interim President when rebel leader Michael Djotodia resigned from his self appointed Presidency. Before she took on this role, she was the mayor of  the capital city Bangui from 2013 to 2014.

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius (June 2015 – March 2018)

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was the first female President of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018. She was selected to be a Presidential candidate in 2014 following the resignation of then President Kailash Purryag. She was unanimously elected President by the National Assembly.

Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia ( October 2018 – Present)

Sahle-Work Zewde is the first elected female President of Ethiopia and currently among the only two females out of  the 54 Presidents in Africa. She took office on October 25, 2018 after being unanimously elected by members of the National Parliamentary Assembly. Prior to her election as President, she worked as Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union.

By Baron Kironde