Tanzania’s foreign policy has transformed since President Samia Suluhu Hassan succeeded the late John Magufuli in 2021. Unlike her predecessor, whose nationalist agenda emphasized sovereignty and reduced international engagement, Hassan has sought to rebuild ties with investors, regional partners, and foreign governments while preserving elements of Magufuli’s resource policies. According to new research, this shift reflects changing domestic power dynamics rather than differences in leadership styles. Importantly, the shift—which involved strengthening business elites and international partners while weakening nationalist factions empowered under Magufuli’s rule—has granted Hassan legitimacy and elite consensus after she inherited a politically insecure position. In the long run, Hassan’s balancing act between renewed international engagement and retained nationalist policies, particularly in mining, will determine whether she can sustain both economic growth and political stability without alienating either camp.
The Conversation