Tanzania’s Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi announced his resignation on Tuesday, August 26, 2026, stating his decision was to respect President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s wishes. In a post shared on Instagram, Nchimbi said, "I have decided to retire from politics and public service," with his resignation set to take effect on September 4.

Nchimbi added that he had promised President Hassan he would step down if she desired a different vice president and said he was "convinced beyond doubt that the president desires change."

This resignation comes weeks after the suspension of the Mwanahalisi newspaper, which had reported on deep divisions within the government and alleged that Nchimbi was reluctant to resign despite pressure from the ruling party.

President Hassan, who succeeded the late John Magufuli in March 2021, was initially praised for easing restrictions on opposition and media. However, international observers have criticized the political climate, warning of narrowing civil and political rights in Tanzania, a country that last year experienced election unrest resulting in hundreds of deaths. Hassan recently won the polls with 98 percent of the vote, a result criticized by international observers.

Tanzania ranks 117th out of 180 countries in press freedom according to the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Sources