Tanzania: another spy chief gets sacked, third in row, it's Saidi Masoro who lasted only seven months, ex-envoy to Rwanda Ali Siwa takes over

For the second time this year, President Samia Suluhu has sacked yet another Director General of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS).

Yesterday was Saidi Masoro’s turn. He was appointed by President Samia on January 3, 2023, and has therefore lasted for only 7 months and 25 days, the shortest tenure ever in the spy agency’s 62-year history.

Masoro was appointed following the sacking of his predecessor, Diwani Athumani, who had been in the position since September 2019.

Appointed to fill Masoro's position is Ambassador Ali Siwa, former Director of Internal Operations (DOI) at TISS before he became the East African nation’s envoy to Rwanda.

This intelligence analysis explains why Masoro got sacked, offers background information on Ambassador Siwa, and touches on successive sackings of the spymasters with Masoro being the third to get the boot in less than four years.