Tanzania's Vice President Resigns Amid Rift with President
Tanzania’s Vice President, Emmanuel Nchimbi, has unexpectedly decided to resign from his post. The move marks a historic first as the resignation of a vice president in the East African country.
According to a BBC International report on Thursday (27/08/2026), the sudden decision follows news of his rift with President Samia Suluhu Hassan in recent weeks. Through a short letter posted on his personal Instagram account, the 54-year-old politician stated he was stepping down to honour the president’s wishes—news that has been confirmed by the presidency and internal sources in his office.
Emmanuel stated that he will retire from public life at the end of next week. The resignation comes less than 10 months after he was sworn in as Samia’s deputy.
It is worth noting that the pair previously won the presidential election in October last year and were officially inaugurated in November after sweeping 98% of the vote. The election was marred by disputes and triggered violent protests that resulted in the deaths of at least 500 people, according to an official inquiry.
Opposition groups and human rights organisations have accused security forces of carrying out harsh and brutal actions against anti-government protesters following the vote.
Regarding his decision to step down, Emmanuel referred to a promise he had made to Samia that he was ready to leave his post if the president wanted a new deputy.
“I have become convinced, without doubt, that the president wants change, and therefore I have decided to honour my promise,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the president, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party for their trust, and to all Tanzanians for their support. He stressed that he was leaving his post in accordance with the country’s constitution and would continue to be a good Tanzanian citizen.
The rift with Samia is strongly suspected to have been triggered by a number of controversial statements made by Emmanuel in recent weeks. Last month, he publicly urged Tanzanians to fight for a new constitution and argued that there was an opportunity to secure one before 2030.
He linked the presence of a new constitution as an essential way out to address injustice, strengthen human rights, good governance, and democracy.
For context, Emmanuel is not an ordinary figure in Tanzanian politics. He previously served as Secretary General of CCM and held various strategic positions in government, including Minister of Information and Home Affairs, before becoming Tanzania’s Ambassador to Brazil and Egypt.