President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania was sworn in for a new five-year term on Monday, a victory overshadowed by widespread, deadly protests and accusations of a fraudulent election process from the country’s opposition.
In her victory speech, President Hassan defended the poll as “free and democratic” and described the protesters as “unpatriotic.”
The inauguration ceremony, held under tight security at a military parade ground in the administrative capital, Dodoma, was markedly subdued compared to previous public events. It followed the National Electoral Commission’s announcement that President Hassan had secured a landslide victory with 98% of the vote.
The election and its results were vehemently rejected by the main opposition party, Chadema, and other political opponents who labelled the vote a “sham.” The core of the dispute centers on the systematic exclusion of President Hassan’s most significant
Two leading opposition figures were either jailed or disqualified from the presidential race on charges that their parties dismissed as politically motivated. Chadema’s party was ultimately prevented from participating in the election, eliminating any meaningful competition for the incumbent.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, accused the administration of overseeing a “wave of terror” in the run-up to the vote, citing reports of abductions, intimidation, and enforced disappearances of political opponents and activists.
The announcement of the overwhelming victory triggered widespread violent protests across major cities, including the commercial hub Dar es Salaam.
Demonstrators clashed with security forces, resulting in police deploying tear gas and live ammunition. Witnesses reported incidents of protesters tearing down presidential banners and vandalizing property. The military was eventually deployed to assist police in quelling the unrest.
The international community has expressed alarm over the violence. The UN Human Rights Office stated there were “credible reports” of at least 10 deaths in three cities, underscoring deep concern over the reports of violence and the lack of transparency in the election process.
In response to the protests, the government imposed a curfew and initiated a nationwide internet blackout for several days, making independent verification of the full scale of the protests and casualties nearly impossible.
Hassan, who first assumed the presidency in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, was seeking to secure her own mandate.
Analysts suggest her decisive and uncontested victory is aimed at consolidating her authority within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has governed Tanzania since its independence in 1961.
The post-election environment remains tense, with many streets in Dar es Salaam reported to be nearly empty and some essential services disrupted. The situation has also led to the closure of a key border crossing with Kenya, delaying the transport of agricultural goods.
