Tanzania is still reeling from the deadly aftermath of its October 29 election, which international observers say failed to meet democratic standards. With opposition leaders barred from running and reports of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, the political landscape is under intense scrutiny. While President Samia Suluhu Hassan has drawn much of the public’s ire, analysts say she’s not the only one shaping the country’s future.
Here’s a breakdown of the key figures behind Tanzania’s turbulent political scene:
President Samia Suluhu Hassan
- First female head of state in Africa and commander-in-chief of Tanzania’s armed forces
- Won over 97% of the vote in a race criticized for excluding opposition
- Accused of overseeing a crackdown on political dissent, including treason charges against Chadema leader Tundu Lissu
- Critics say she’s surrounded herself with loyalists from Zanzibar, raising concerns about factionalism within the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party
Former President Jakaya Kikwete
- Tanzania’s only surviving former president, still influential behind the scenes
- Played a key role in the transition after John Magufuli’s death in 2021
- Accused by some of enabling the current administration’s repressive tactics
- Seen as a bridge to foreign business interests seeking stability
Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi
- Former interior minister and CCM secretary-general
- Recently inaugurated alongside Hassan in Dodoma
- Viewed as a party loyalist and potential presidential contender in 2030
Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir (Hassan’s Son)
- Holds no official government role but is rumored to be a key advisor
- Allegedly involved in organizing the recent crackdown, though he has not responded publicly
- Linked to the disappearance of former ambassador Humphrey Polepole, who criticized Hassan’s leadership
Paul Makonda
- Former regional commissioner of Dar es Salaam and close Hassan ally
- Expected to receive a prominent role in the next administration
- Sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 for alleged human rights abuses and suppression of opposition
As Tanzania grapples with the fallout from its most violent election in decades, these figures will shape the country’s political trajectory—whether toward reform or deeper repression. The stakes couldn’t be higher.