Keypoints:
- Hassan takes 97.66 percent in disputed poll
- Unrest tied to opposition exclusions and arrests
- UN urges impartial probe into security response
PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the overwhelming winner of Tanzania’s disputed national election, securing nearly 98 percent of votes in a contest overshadowed by unrest and accusations of government repression.
The National Electoral Commission announced on Saturday that Hassan received 31.9 million votes—97.66 percent of the total cast—securing her another five-year term. But her triumph followed days of violent protests that erupted during the election after her main challengers were excluded from the ballot.
The violence underscored growing tensions in the East African nation, with demonstrators accusing the government of subverting democracy. Witnesses told Reuters that in several cities—including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza—protesters tore down banners of Hassan’s ruling party, set fire to government buildings, and clashed with police, who responded with tear gas and live rounds.
Opposition anger over election exclusions
The unrest began after Tanzania’s electoral commission disqualified Hassan’s two most prominent rivals, prompting outrage from opposition supporters and rights groups.
The main opposition party, CHADEMA, had already been barred from the contest for refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct. Its leader, arrested on treason charges earlier this year, accused the government of engineering a one-party vote.
Human rights organisations have reported mass arrests and abductions of opposition figures ahead of the poll, describing the environment as ‘hostile and coercive’.
In her victory speech from the administrative capital Dodoma, Hassan denounced the protests as ‘neither responsible nor patriotic’.
‘When it comes to the security of Tanzania, there is no debate—we must use all available security avenues to ensure the country remains safe,’ she said.
Opposition alleges mass killings
CHADEMA said on Friday that hundreds of people had been killed in the unrest. The UN human rights office said it had received credible reports confirming at least ten deaths across three cities, though it warned that the figure was likely higher.
The government rejected CHADEMA’s claim as ‘hugely exaggerated’. Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo told Reuters that security forces had acted lawfully, and the violence was confined to ‘very few small pockets of incidents’ involving ‘criminal elements’.
Since Wednesday’s vote, Tanzania has been under a nationwide curfew, with internet access restricted and international flights suspended. Port operations in Dar es Salaam—a key hub for regional fuel imports and mineral exports—have also been disrupted.
UN demands investigation into use of force
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the reported violence and called for an independent investigation into the alleged use of excessive force by Tanzanian authorities.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Guterres ‘deplored the loss of life’ and urged all sides to exercise restraint and respect the rights of citizens to peaceful assembly.
Human rights groups have urged the government to lift restrictions on communication and to release those detained during the protests, warning that continued repression risks destabilising one of East Africa’s most strategically important economies.
Turnout figures spark scepticism
The electoral commission said turnout reached nearly 87 percent of Tanzania’s 37.6 million registered voters. The figure drew scepticism from observers, who pointed out that Hassan’s predecessor, John Magufuli, won re-election in 2020 with just 12.5 million votes from fewer than 15 million participants.
Witnesses said polling stations appeared largely empty on election day as unrest spread and fear kept voters away.
Hassan’s early reform image fades
Hassan, who became president in 2021 following Magufuli’s death, was initially praised for easing political restrictions, freeing some opposition figures, and reopening dialogue with critics. However, those reforms have since been overshadowed by growing allegations of repression.
Last year, Hassan said she had ordered an investigation into reports of abductions of political opponents, but no findings have been released.
During the campaign, she highlighted achievements such as expanding road and rail networks and increasing electricity generation, describing her re-election as a mandate to ‘consolidate progress’.
‘This victory belongs to every Tanzanian who believes in peace, stability, and development,’ she told supporters in Dodoma.
Yet analysts say the credibility of the result has been undermined by the exclusion of opposition candidates and the violent scenes that marred the election period.
‘The scale of Hassan’s victory, combined with the repression seen during voting, raises serious questions about democratic legitimacy,’ said a regional analyst in Nairobi.
As curfews remain in place and communication blackouts persist, Tanzania faces mounting international scrutiny and growing pressure to restore calm and political dialogue.
