World

Kamala Harris Celebrates Samia Suluhu, Tanzania’s 1st Female President

Monday, March 22, 2021 at 1:02 PM by Kelly Lippke Marilynn Manuel

- US Vice President Kamala Harris assured President Samia Suluhu that the US government will be ready to offer her support as she takes over as president

- Kamala's message comes at a time when it was believed that the late Magufuli had strained the relations between Tanzania and her international partners

- Suluhu was sworn in on Friday, March 19, making history as the first Tanzanian woman to be president

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The Vice President of the United States of America Kamala Harris has honoured the newly sworn-in Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu who made history as the first woman to hold the office.

Kamala Harris celebrates Samia Suluhu for becoming Tanzania’s first female president — President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania when she took the oath of office on Friday, March 19.Photo: Yassin Juma
Source: Getty Images

Kamala expressed her best wishes to Samia as she takes over from her predecessor, the late John Pombe Magufuli.

Having made history as the first woman ever to be president, VP Harris was hopeful Samia is fit and will be steering the country in the right direction assuring her of the support from the US government.

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"Sending best wishes to @SuluhuSamia following her swearing-in as Tanzania's new President - the first woman to hold the office. The United States stands ready to work with you to strengthen relations between our countries," Kamala Harris said in a tweet sent on Saturday, March 20.

Kamala's message comes at a time when it was believed that Magufuli's regime had strained relations with the United States and other international partners.

The strained relations was owed to several instances including the lingering concerns around the 2015 Zanzibar elections, the 2020 polls that were marred with irregularities, and how the late Magufuli had handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given her evident reserved nature, it is thought that Samia will be in a position to mend the perceived 'dented' relations Tanzania had with the outside world during the reign of her predecessor.

Samia was sworn in on Friday, March 19 as Tanzanian president following the demise of Magufuli which was announced on March 17.

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She hails from Zanzibar whose population is mainly made of Muslims.

Samia served as the vice president to the late Magufuli for six years since 2015 when they took over from the Jakaya Kikwete regime.

Prior to her vice president's position and now president, Suluhu had served as a Member of Parliament for the Makunduchi constituency between 2010 and 2015 serving as a minister at the same time.

Briefly.co.za previously reported that Tanzania's Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn-in as the sixth president of the country a day after she announced the death of President John Pombe Magufuli. Suluhu, who read three oaths, took the oath of office at State House Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Friday, 3 March.

The new president, dressed in red and black, then proceeded to inspect a guard of honour mounted by the Tanzania Defence Forces. The swearing-in event was low-key without heads of state heads but was graced by former presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Hassam Mwinyi.