Samia and Hafidh Ameir Hassan got married in 1978, and they have four children — three sons and a daughter.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has passed away.
His death was announced on Monday, 7 September 2026, by the country’s Vice-President, Deogratius Ndejembi.
According to him, Ameir breathed his last at 8:00 am local time (6:00 am GMT) on Monday at the Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital.
Ndejembi added that the president’s husband had been battling a heart condition before his death and disclosed that funeral arrangements were underway in Kizimkazi, a village on Zanzibar’s semi-autonomous island.
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Ameir, an agricultural academic, became Tanzania’s first First Gentleman after Samia assumed office in 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the region, with Kenyan President William Ruto expressing sadness over Ameir’s passing.
”President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son,” Ruto said in a tribute shared on social media.
Similarly, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema extended his condolences to Tanzania’s first family, saying his country stood with them during this difficult period.
Ameir married Samia Suluhu Hassan in 1978, before she entered national politics. The couple had four children — three sons and a daughter.
