A seasoned legal expert, Dr Migiro began her career in academia at the University of Dar es Salaam’s Faculty of Law, where she rose to the position of Senior Lecturer. She headed the Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law from 1992 to 1994 and the Department of Civil and Criminal Law from 1994 to 1997.
Dodoma. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has appointed Dr Asha-Rose Migiro as the party’s new Secretary-General, making her the first woman in the party’s history to assume the influential post.
Dr Migiro replaces Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, who has been nominated as Samia Suluhu Hassan's running mate for the October 2025 General Election
Her appointment was announced late on Saturday, August 23, 2025, by CCM’s Secretary for Ideology, Publicity and Training, Mr Amos Makalla.
The announcement followed a series of high-level nomination meetings chaired by the party’s national chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
A Woman of firsts
Born in Songea, Ruvuma Region, 69 years ago, Dr Migiro has held a distinguished career in public service, both in Tanzania and on the global stage.
She became the first Tanzanian to serve as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations on 1 February 2007, under then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. She was only the third person to hold the post since its establishment in 1997.
Before her UN appointment, Dr Migiro served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from 2006 to 2007, becoming the first woman to hold the portfolio since Tanzania gained independence in 1961. She also served as Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children for five years prior.
As Foreign Minister, she played a key role in regional diplomacy, particularly in the Great Lakes Region. She chaired the Council of Ministers of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, which led to the signing of a Pact on Security, Stability and Development.
Dr Migiro also chaired the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. In that capacity, she oversaw SADC’s support for elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zambia, Madagascar, and Lesotho.
Academic and legal background
A seasoned legal expert, Dr Migiro began her career in academia at the University of Dar es Salaam’s Faculty of Law, where she rose to the position of Senior Lecturer. She headed the Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law from 1992 to 1994 and the Department of Civil and Criminal Law from 1994 to 1997.
She has authored numerous scholarly articles and served on Tanzania’s Law Reform Commission in 1997. In 2000, she was appointed to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Dr Migiro holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Dar es Salaam (1984) and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Konstanz in Germany (1992).
Political and diplomatic career
Dr Migiro’s political journey within CCM began at the grassroots level. She served as a ward member from 1994 to 2000 and later as a member of a regional executive council from 2000 to 2005.
In 2006, then-President Jakaya Kikwete appointed her Minister of Foreign Affairs. After her tenure at the United Nations, Dr Migiro returned to national service and rejoined Kikwete’s cabinet.
In 2015, she contested for the CCM presidential nomination but lost to the eventual flag-bearer and winner of the election, John Magufuli. She was later appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in May 2016.
Personal life
Dr Migiro was born on 9 July 1956 in Songea. She began her education at Mnazi Mmoja Primary School, later attending Korogwe and Weruweru Secondary Schools. She is married to Prof Cleophas Migiro and has two daughters. In addition to Kiswahili and English, she speaks basic French and German.
