Tanzania: Military Intelligence Chief Maj Gen Mkeremy Removed, Appointed Ambassador | Analysis
Ujasusi Blog’s East Africa Monitoring Team | 10 January 2026 | 1000 GMT
In Brief
The removal of Maj Gen Mbaraka Naziad Mkeremy from his role as Chief of Defence Intelligence (often referred to as DMI) on January 8, 2026, stands as a definitive “risk-containment” move by the administration of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. By redeploying Mkeremy to an ambassadorial post, the state has initiated a high-level restructuring of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) just months after the deadliest general election in the nation’s history.
I. Maj Gen Mbaraka Mkeremy: The Strategic Pivot
Maj Gen Mkeremy’s career has been defined by his proximity to the executive branch. His removal is not a routine rotation but a response to his institutional role during the 2025 post-election crisis.
1. Professional Background and Trajectory
Presidential Aide-de-Camp (ADC): Mkeremy served as the ADC to former President Jakaya Kikwete, a position that embedded him in the country’s most sensitive security and political networks.
Continuity Under Magufuli: His brief continuation as ADC during the transition to John Magufuli underscored his status as a trusted figure across administrations.
Intelligence Leadership: His rise to lead military intelligence made him the primary architect of threat assessments during the October 29, 2025 elections.
2. The Logic of the “Ambassadorial Shield”
The official announcement framing his removal as a diplomatic appointment serves several political purposes: