Following pressure from rising global oil prices, Samia Suluhu Hassan has decided to trim the scale of her official convoys, a shift aimed at reducing fuel use and cutting operational costs.
The Tanzanian leader, whose motorcades have often drawn attention for their size, is now directing a more restrained approach to presidential travel. Her decision comes as several African countries scramble to manage fuel shortages and surging prices triggered by international supply disruptions.
Across the continent, governments are adopting emergency responses. Madagascar has declared a state of emergency to curb fuel consumption. South Africa has reduced its fuel levy, while Ethiopia has rolled out fuel rationing. In Senegal, authorities have halted non-essential overseas trips for ministers.
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Hassan, addressing the issue on Wednesday, outlined a more coordinated system for officials who travel with her.
“From today, whenever I travel, the officers accompanying me will use consolidated transport in small buses to reduce fuel consumption and operational costs during this period,” Hassan said Wednesday.
Previously, her convoys often stretched into dozens of vehicles, transporting aides, security personnel and protocol teams. A widely circulated video showing a 30-car motorcade once stirred debate online about the scale of presidential movements in Africa, with Hassan’s convoy frequently cited among the longest.
Despite the changes, she assured that Tanzania has enough fuel reserves to last for up to three months, while warning businesses against exploiting the situation through price hikes.
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Fuel prices have climbed sharply in recent weeks, rising by $0.40 per liter within a fortnight. The spike has been linked to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing Iran war, both of which have disrupted global supply chains, the AP reported.