Tanzania experienced an unexpected shift in leadership when the sudden death of President John Magufuli was announced on March 17, 2021. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan was inaugurated as Tanzania’s sixth president, becoming the country’s first female leader. This change resulted in a slow but definite reversal of Tanzania’s policies.
Economically, Tanzania’s benefits of growth are highly unevenly distributed among the population. Growth rates of approximately 5-7% – primarily driven by capital-intensive sectors – as well as macroeconomic stability have not yet led to a reduction in poverty or the generation of employment opportunities.
Despite visible political liberalization and the lifting of the imposed media bans, all the restrictive laws of the Magufuli era remained in force. Still, relations with international partners improved significantly due to the President’s extensive diplomatic activities.
