Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan was on Friday morning, March 19, sworn in as Tanzania’s first female president following the sad passing of President John Magufuli from an illness shrouded in mystery.
The soft-spoken Hassan who was Vice President swore with the Quran before dignitaries at the ceremony to usher in the historic emergence of the first female president in East Africa.
“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” She swore at 10am local time in Dar es Salaam.
The 61-year-old leader ascended to the presidency after President Magufuli’s death on Wednesday due to heart disease, more than two weeks after he disappeared from the public.
Magufuli’s absence since February 27 had fuelled speculation about his health and sparked rumours he had contracted COVID-19, although officials had denied he was ill.
Watch video from the swearing-in ceremony below.