Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has joined other world leaders in mourning the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Al-Husseini, Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims and the founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Al-Husseini, Aga Khan IV,” President Hassan wrote in her X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
“On behalf of the Government and People of the United Republic of Tanzania, I wish to convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to His Highness’s family, the Aga Khan Development Network, and the Ismaili Muslim community.
“We join you in mourning the loss of a great and a visionary leader, whose work has touched and changed the lives of millions of people around the world. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.”
Other world leaders also paid tribute to the Aga Khan, highlighting his enduring contributions to global development and humanitarian work.
In his condolence message, Kenyan President William Ruto, said the world has lost an extraordinary leader who went beyond what seemed impossible to help the vulnerable through his charities in hospitals and schools.
“We are saddened by the passing of The Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims… Our thoughts are with the family of His Highness and the wider Ismaili community,” Mr Ruto said in a post on X.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed him as “a remarkable leader who devoted his life to uplifting communities and championing pluralism across the world.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his passing as “a great loss to humanity,” acknowledging the Aga Khan’s role in fostering social progress and strengthening historical ties between India and the Ismaili Muslim community.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended his condolences, lauding the Aga Khan’s contributions to education and healthcare in Pakistan and beyond.
“His legacy will live on in the countless lives he has improved,” Sharif noted.
Prince Karim Aga Khan, a revered philanthropist and spiritual guide, passed away peacefully in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 5, 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from the Aga Khan Development Network.
As the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan traced his lineage directly to the Prophet Muhammad and provided spiritual guidance to an estimated 15 million followers worldwide, including in Tanzania, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and other parts of Africa and Asia.
He ascended to the role in 1957, succeeding his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, at the age of 20.
