Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered government officials to ditch luxury motorcades for a single bus to curb fuel consumption as the East African nation grapples with record-high pump prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, issued a direct mandate requiring government officials to travel in a single bus during official trips to mitigate the impact of a severe national fuel shortage. Speaking during a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed officials, the President announced that her own expansive motorcade—which typically exceeds 30 vehicles and luxury SUVs—will be scaled back to a “core convoy” consisting only of essential escort and security teams. The move comes as Tanzania’s energy regulator, EWURA, reported that retail petrol prices have surged by 33.4%, hitting a record Sh3,820 per litre this month. “From now on, wherever I go, all officials will travel together in one bus… to cut fuel consumption,” Hassan declared, highlighting the need for fiscal discipline as the country faces the economic fallout of the Israel-U.S.-Iran war.
The energy crisis in East Africa has been exacerbated by the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces, a strategic chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world’s petroleum transit passes. With Middle Eastern supply chains effectively severed, Tanzania has seen shipping costs and insurance premiums skyrocket, leading to a ripple effect of inflation across the transport and agricultural sectors. In major cities like Mwanza and Bukoba, fuel prices have even breached the Sh4,000 mark, prompting bus operators to threaten a suspension of services. President Hassan’s austerity measure is intended to signal a government-wide commitment to energy conservation at a time when households are struggling with a sudden, sharp increase in the cost of living.
Tanzania is not alone in its struggle; neighboring Ethiopia has also implemented aggressive rationing strategies. Last week, the Ethiopian government announced it would prioritize fuel access for vehicles transporting essential goods and public transport sectors, while cutting the daily supply of white diesel by more than half. As global crude oil prices hover between $105 and $120 per barrel, East African nations—which are structurally dependent on Middle Eastern imports—are increasingly vulnerable to secondary shortages of fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. While the International Energy Agency (IEA) has released emergency reserves to stabilize the global market, analysts warn that as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains contested, the region will continue to absorb the highest costs of the conflict.
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