Tanzania’s former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi passed away on Thursday at the age of 98, as confirmed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Mwinyi, who served as Tanzania’s President from 1985 to 1995, succeeded the country’s founding president, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
Only three months away from his 99th birthday, Mwinyi had been battling a chest illness since last November. He is remembered for introducing multiparty elections and relaxing state control of the economy.
Regional leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto, hailed Mwinyi as a remarkable leader. Opposition leader Raila Odinga described him as a “great African leader and statesman.”