Tanzanian Parliament Speaker Tulia Akson engaging with Tanzania’s new foreign minister, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, minutes after he was sworn in as a nominated legislator to allow him to take the oath later as a minister. Photo: MFA-Tanzania

Tanzania’s new foreign minister, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, was sworn in as a nominated member of parliament by Speaker Tulia Akson on Thursday, allowing him to officially take the oath as foreign minister.

Kombo, a Zanzibari politician and former Tanzanian ambassador to Italy, fills the vacancy left by January Makamba, who was dismissed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan while he was en route from an AU mid-year summit in Accra, Ghana.

President Hassan made these changes as part of her efforts to regain trust from foreign powers and push forward economic and political reforms.

These reforms include easing restrictions on opposition parties and media, which some critics felt were faltering.

The entire top leadership of the foreign office was overhauled, with both Makamba and his deputy minister being dismissed.

Additionally, another deputy minister resigned just hours before the cabinet reshuffle was announced.
Makamba, an influential figure in the ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), was removed without any official reason given for his dismissal.