Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed Khamis Mussa Omar, the country’s ambassador to China, as the new finance minister as she unveils a restructured cabinet following last month’s contentious general election. The announcement was delivered during a national broadcast on Monday, marking one of the most significant changes since the vote.
Hassan opted to retain two key ministers: Anthony Mavunde will continue leading the Ministry of Minerals, while Mahmoud Thabit Kombo remains in charge of foreign affairs. Their reappointment signals continuity in sectors central to the country’s economic diplomacy and natural resource strategy.
The reshuffle comes days after Hassan named her former finance minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, as the new prime minister, elevating him to one of the highest political offices in government.
President Hassan was declared the overwhelming winner of the October presidential poll, but the results were overshadowed by unrest tied to the exclusion of major opposition candidates. The election sparked deadly confrontations between security forces and protesters across several regions. Opposition groups and human rights organisations claim the death toll reached into the hundreds, a figure the government insists has been grossly overstated.
In response to growing pressure, the president has pledged a formal inquiry into the violence and its causes. On Friday, she issued condolences to families who lost relatives during the clashes—her most explicit public recognition of the crisis so far. Analysts say the gesture, along with the cabinet adjustments, reflects an attempt to restore stability and rebuild public trust after what many observers describe as Tanzania’s most severe political upheaval in decades.
Source:Africa Publicity
