Jakaya Kikwete
An army officer turned politician who was foreign minister for ten years before he became president in 2005. He governed through a decade of fast growth and led the African Union in 2008.
Edited by Kabeer Dalvi · Updated 13 October 2026
Jakaya Kikwete speaking in London, July 2012.
- Born
- 7 October 1950, Msoga, Pwani
- President
- 21 December 2005 – 5 November 2015
- Order
- Fourth president
- Party
- CCM
- African Union chair
- 2008 – 2009
Early life, university and the army
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was born on 7 October 1950 at Msoga, in today's Pwani Region. He graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam in 1975.
He then joined the army, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served in the war with Uganda of 1978–79.
Minister of finance and of foreign affairs
Kikwete became minister of finance on 7 August 1994. From 27 November 1995 he was minister of foreign affairs, a post he held for the whole of Benjamin Mkapa's presidency, ten years in all.
As president
Kikwete was elected in 2005 and sworn in on 21 December 2005, and was re-elected in 2010. The economy grew quickly through his two terms, and from 2010 large reserves of natural gas were found offshore. That story is on the multi-party era.
From 31 January 2008 to 2 February 2009 he was chairperson of the African Union.
After office
Kikwete handed over to John Magufuli on 5 November 2015. In January 2016 the African Union named him its High Representative for Libya, and he has been chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam since leaving office.
- Who was the fourth president of Tanzania?
- Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, president from 21 December 2005 to 5 November 2015. He served two terms.
- What did Jakaya Kikwete do before he was president?
- He was an army officer, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel, then minister of finance from 1994 and minister of foreign affairs from 1995 to 2005.
- Was Kikwete chairman of the African Union?
- Yes. He was chairperson of the African Union from 31 January 2008 to 2 February 2009.