Samia names daughter and son-in-law to Cabinet

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed her daughter and son-in-law to the Cabinet in a fresh round of government changes.

Samia unveiled 27 ministers and 29 deputy ministers during a televised announcement from Chamwino State House in Dodoma on Monday, selecting her daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, to serve as Deputy Minister of Education.

Wanu’s husband, Mohamed Mchengerwa, was named the new Minister for Health in a reshuffle that saw seven senior officials from the previous Cabinet dismissed.

Wanu, 43, represents Makunduchi Constituency in Zanzibar, while her spouse, 46, is the MP for Rufiji Constituency in Pwani Region.

Tanzania’s former President Jakaya Kikwete’s son, Ridhwani Kikwete, was also appointed Minister for Public Service Management and Good Governance in the President’s Office. Ridhwani, 46, a CCM legislator for Chalinze Constituency in the coastal region, is the son of Tanzania’s fourth president, who played a key role in elevating Samia within CCM and eventually to the presidency.

Khamis Mussa Omar was selected as the new Finance Minister, succeeding Mwigulu Nchemba, who became Prime Minister last week. Samia also confirmed Mahmoud Thabit Kombo will remain as Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. The new Cabinet took the oath of office on Tuesday morning.

Regional pattern of family appointments

Samia’s appointments mirror a growing trend across Africa where leaders elevate close relatives or family members of influential allies into senior government positions.

In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has long surrounded himself with relatives in top roles. His wife, Janet Museveni, serves as Minister for Education, while their daughter Natasha works in State House as a Private Secretary. His son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is the head of defence forces, and his son-in-law, Odrek Rwabogo—married to Patience Museveni—is a presidential advisor. Museveni’s younger brother, General Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), is also a presidential advisor, while their stepbrother, Shedreck Nzaire, offers counsel on defence matters. General Muhoozi’s father-in-law, Sam Kutesa, served as Foreign Affairs Minister for two decades before retiring four years ago.

In Rwanda, President Paul Kagame recently dismissed claims that he is grooming his daughter, Ange Ingabire Kagame, to take over from him. Speaking during the 18th Unity Club meeting in Kigali last week, Kagame said neither he nor his children deserve special treatment, stressing that every Rwandan must be free to define their future. He added that Ange’s role as Deputy Executive Director of the Strategy and Policy Council in the President’s Office should not be misinterpreted as succession planning, remarking, “The girl you said I want to make president might not even want to be one.” Kagame’s sons, Brian and Ian, serve in the Rwanda Defence Forces, with one acting as his bodyguard.

Elsewhere, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir named his eldest daughter, Adut Salva Kiir, as Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programmes in August 2025. Analysts argue the decision is part of Kiir’s broader push to fortify his political dynasty, given Adut’s lack of previous government experience despite her humanitarian work through the Adut Salva Kiir Foundation.