Tanzania celebrates first Muslim female president

Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday was sworn in as Tanzania’s president, making the history as becoming the first hijab-wearing Muslim female leader of the East African country.

Tanzania has sworn its first female Muslim president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, days after she announced the death of her predecessor John Magufuli who suddenly died of a heart attack.

“I Samia Suluhu Hassan, swear and solemnly affirm that I will be faithful to the United Republic of Tanzania, and serve it with all my heart, and that I will preserve and defend the constitution of the union of Tanzania in accordance with the law laid down, so help me God,” Suluhu said while taking her presidential oath.

“I swear that I will undertake my presidential duties for Tanzania faithfully and conscientiously fulfill those responsibilities,” she told the ceremony attended by military and government officials.

Hassan inspected a guard of honor and received a gun salute from the military.

Under the constitution, she will serve the remainder of the term until 2025 after winning elections last year. Hassan is the third Muslim president in the country's history and joins Ethiopia's Sahle-Work Zewde as the second female president in Africa.