Tanzania is in mourning after the death of Hafidh Ameir Hassan, the country’s First Gentleman and husband to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He died early Monday morning, September 7, 2026, following complications linked to a heart condition he had been receiving treatment for.
Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi broke the news to the nation, explaining that Hassan passed away shortly after 8 a.m. at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar, where he had been admitted for heart-related treatment.
“Fellow citizens, it is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Honourable Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Honourable Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan,” the Vice President said in his address.
He went on to confirm the time and circumstances of the passing, noting that Hassan had spent his final days battling heart disease at the Zanzibar facility.
Ndejembi used the address to pass on condolences on behalf of the government, reaching out to the President, her relatives, and the wider Tanzanian public.
“I extend my condolences to the Honourable President, his family, relatives and friends, and all Tanzanians on this loss,” he said, adding that preparations for the burial were already underway in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar.
Hassan and President Samia have been married since 1978, a union that produced four children. One of them, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, has followed a path into politics herself and currently sits as a member of parliament.
Away from the spotlight, Hassan built a reputation as a quiet, private figure. Trained as an agricultural scholar, he largely avoided the public eye throughout his time as First Gentleman, steering clear of social media and rarely appearing at high-profile events a low profile that meant most Tanzanians knew very little about the man behind the title.
News of his death has drawn tributes from across the region, with Kenyan President William Ruto among the first foreign leaders to send condolences to President Samia and the Tanzanian people.
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