By The former vice president of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been sworn in as the country’s first female president, following the sudden demise of President John Magufuli.
The Tanzanian government had announced the death of Magufuli on Wednesday after his mysterious three-week absence from public view, saying he died from heart complications at a hospital in Dar es Salaam. Hassan made the announcement.
The BBC reported that the former vice president was sworn in by Ibrahim Juma, the chief justice, at the state house in Dar es Salaam, on Friday.
“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” said the new president, as she took the oath of office.
The 61 year-old will finish Magufuli’s second five-year term, set to run until 2025.
The Tanzanian constitution states upon the death of the president, the vice-president is to be sworn in and become president for the remaining period of the five-year tenure.
Hassan becomes the only serving female executive president in Africa, unlike Sahle-Work Zewde, president of Ethiopia, who occupies a ceremonial position.
