President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced the appointment of Ambassador Ali Idi Siwa as the new Director General of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), replacing Saidi Massoro.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday August 28, 2023. Ambassador Siwa assuming the role previously served as Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Rwanda.
This move comes after Massoro’s brief eight-month tenure at the helm of the intelligence agency, culminating in his reassignment as an ambassador.
While the President’s motivations for the shift remain undisclosed, the transition marks a significant change within Tanzania’s covert security sector.
President Samia’s decision to replace the head of the nation’s spy agency has raised questions about the administration’s strategic vision for intelligence and security operations.
Saidi Massoro, who had taken up the position in January of this year, now assumes an ambassadorial role, leaving behind a tenure that lasted less than eight months.
The incoming Director General, Ambassador Ali Idi Siwa, brings with him a wealth of experience from his diplomatic service, particularly as the High Commissioner to Rwanda.
As the details behind these changes remain confined to insiders, the Tanzanian public watches keenly for any potential shifts in the nation’s security and intelligence strategies under this new leadership.
