Following the death of Tanzania’s President John Magufuli on March 17, 2021, the vice president Samia Suluhu Hassan, who had previously been little known to the general public, took over the office of president. Suluhu Hassan, a Muslim, is from Zanzibar and had already held the office of vice president during Magufuli’s first term since 2015. Suluhu Hassan’s first decisions indicate that she not only wants to cultivate a different tone than Magufuli, who was also known as “bulldozer,” but also sets new accents in terms of content. She seems to take the threat of the Covid 19 pandemic far more seriously than her predecessor. Also, “Mama Samia,” as she is affectionately called by parts of the population, has reversed some restrictions on press freedom.

But many questions remain unanswered:  Will the new president be able to hold herself permanently at the head of the state and the state party CCM, in which she has so far had no power base of her own? Which currents in the party will and can she rely on? And what does it mean for Tanzania to be governed for the first time by a politician from the island of Zanzibar? Can Suluhu Hassan continue the economic growth of the first years under John Magufuli without continuing his policy of restricting civil liberties and confronting multinational companies? And what does the domestic political change in Tanzania mean for relations with the other states of East Africa and with the former colonial power Germany?

These and other questions will be at the core of the online discussion to which the German Africa Foundation cordially invites you.

Programme:

Welcome and moderation:
David Schwake, Secretary General, German Africa Foundation

Discussion:
Fatma Karume, President of the Tanzanian Law Society 2018-2019; recently disbarred in Tanzania Mainland after challenging President Magufuli’s appointment of the Attorney General in a constitutional case

Deus Kibamba, Executive Director and Policy Analyst, ‎Tanzania Citizens’ Information Bureau

Dr. Aikande Clement Kwayu, Political Scientist with a focus on party politics in Tanzania

Egon Kochanke, former German Ambassador to Tanzania and member of the honorary board of the German Africa Foundation

The event will be simultaneously translated into English and German. Kindly note that the event will be recorded.

Please register here until 24.05.2021. You will receive the participation link the day before the event.

We look forward to your participation.