“The Making of a Dictator: How Samia Suluhu Took Control of Tanzania”

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 05:32:52 +0000

When Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan became president in 2021, she was hailed as a reformer — soft-spoken, calm, and promising change after Magufuli’s hardline rule.
But four years later, her government stands accused of tightening control over elections, the media, and opposition parties.

In this episode of I, The Kenyan Historian, breaksdown the playbook behind her rise — and how power in Tanzania has become more concentrated than ever.

📌 Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:45 – Step One: Control the Message
02:00 – Step Two: Rig the Playing Field
03:15 – Step Three: Control the Story of Legitimacy
04:30 – Step Four: Expand Presidential Power
06:00 – Step Five: Silence the Critics
07:30 – Step Six: The Playbook Works — Until It Doesn’t

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