Tanzania appoints new finance minister, maintains foreign and mining portfolios after disputed election
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President Samia Suluhu Hassan has named Khamis Mussa Omar, Tanzania’s ambassador to China, as finance minister while retaining Mahmoud Thabit Kombo at foreign affairs and Anthony Mavunde at mining, following the elevation of former finance minister Mwigulu Nchemba to prime minister last week.
In a national address, Hassan presented the reshuffle as a balance of renewal and continuity, shifting Omar from Beijing to the finance portfolio as the administration prepares for fiscal planning, external financing negotiations, and budget execution. Kombo and Mavunde’s retention signals stability in foreign policy and extractive-sector oversight during a period of heightened political scrutiny.
Hassan secured a landslide victory in the October election, which was marred by clashes tied to the exclusion of major challengers. Rights groups and opposition figures allege hundreds of deaths; authorities have dismissed these numbers as exaggerated. The president has pledged an investigation and offered condolences to affected families, acknowledging the gravity of the crisis.
For investors, the appointment of a diplomat with Chinese engagement experience at finance suggests continuity in external partnerships and fiscal policy orientation. Stability in the foreign and mining portfolios supports predictable near-term policy, though political risk from the disputed vote and pending accountability measures may continue to elevate risk premia.
Markets will watch early signals on budget priorities, revenue administration, and project delivery under Omar for indications of policy steadiness, reform momentum, and macroeconomic discipline.
