The woman who is Tanzania's new president

Samia Suluhu Hassan - Tanzania's new president

On Wednesday evening she had the task of announcing to Tanzanians that President John Magufuli had died and now Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan has taken his place as the country's head of state.

First elected as Magufuli's running mate in 2015, she was re-elected last year along with him and, according to the constitution, she should serve out the rest of the five-year term in the top job.

She becomes Africa's only current female political leader - the Ethiopian presidency is a largely ceremonial role - and joins a short list of women on the continent to have run their countries.

The 61-year-old is affectionately known as Mama Samia - in Tanzanian culture that reflects the respect she is held in, rather than reducing her to a gendered role.