Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn-in as President of Tanzania, becoming first woman to hold the job

Tanzania's Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as president on Friday, becoming the first woman head of state in the east African country. She assumed the presidency following Wednesday's announcement of the death of President John Magufuli after a more than two-week absence from public life that drew speculation about his health.

Hassan was sworn in at State House in the country's commercial capital Dar es Salaam, where she called for unity and said the country needed to bury its differences and avoid pointing fingers following the death of Magufuli.

Tanzanians gathered in front of TV screens to watch the historic moment, with some residents stating that having a woman president will empower other women, especially business owners in their growth.

Hassan is regarded as a consensus-builder, a trait that may prove an asset in dealing with the various factions within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and security agencies following the announcement of Magufuli's death.

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