Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan lost her husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan, on Monday, September 7, 2026, after the former First Gentleman died while receiving treatment for a heart condition at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar.

Tanzania’s Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi announced the death, saying Ameir died at 8am on Monday at the Zanzibar hospital where he had been receiving medical care.

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“It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Mr Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan,” Ndejembi said.

Funeral arrangements were already underway in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, according to the Vice-President.

Ameir largely maintained a private life despite his wife’s position as Tanzania’s president.

His public appearances alongside President Samia were relatively limited, reflecting the low-profile role he maintained as the country’s First Gentleman.

He became Tanzania’s first First Gentleman when Samia assumed the presidency in March 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli.

The couple had been married since 1978, before Samia’s rise through Tanzanian politics, and had four children, three sons and a daughter.

Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, has followed her parents into public service and is a politician in Zanzibar.

The death has prompted condolences from leaders across the region.

Kenyan President William Ruto described Ameir’s death as the loss of a lifelong companion for President Samia and a beloved father for their children.

“President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son,” Ruto said in a condolence message.

Ruto added that Kenya stood with Tanzania during the period of mourning and prayed for comfort and strength for the bereaved family.

The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, also expressed condolences to President Samia, her family and the people of Tanzania.

Youssouf offered his “deepest condolences” and prayed for strength, courage and solace for the family, while also praying for the peaceful repose of Ameir’s soul.

Ameir’s death marks a deeply personal loss for President Samia, who became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021 and has remained one of East Africa’s most prominent political figures.

His passing also closes a significant chapter in Tanzania’s recent political history. As First Gentleman, Ameir occupied a largely ceremonial position while keeping much of his personal life away from the public spotlight.

The immediate focus will now turn to funeral arrangements in Kizimkazi as Tanzania mourns a figure who, despite his relative privacy, was closely connected to the country’s highest office.

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For President Samia and her family, the loss is both personal and profound, coming after almost five decades of marriage and a life shared largely away from the political spotlight.