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Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan wins landslide reelection as protests turn deadly
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the overwhelming winner of Wednesday's presidential election on Saturday, securing 97.66% of the vote amid escalating violence that has left hundreds dead and injured, according to opposition and diplomatic sources. The electoral commission announced her victory with 31.9 million votes-nearly sweeping the 32 million ballots cast-while international observers raised concerns over transparency and a nationwide internet blackout complicating independent verification.
Election results and opposition allegations
Electoral chief Jacobs Mwambegele proclaimed Hassan the victor under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, citing an 87% voter turnout among Tanzania's 37.6 million registered electors. In the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, incumbent President Hussein Mwinyi-also of CCM-won with 80% of the vote, though opposition groups alleged "massive fraud," as reported by the Associated Press. Mwinyi's inauguration proceeded Saturday at Zanzibar's Amaan Complex stadium.
Opposition leaders, including Tundu Lissu-jailed on treason charges he denies-and Luhaga Mpina, barred on technical grounds, were sidelined ahead of the vote. Only 16 fringe parties, historically lacking significant support, competed against CCM, which has held power uninterrupted since Tanzania's independence.
Deadly crackdown and global condemnation
Protests erupted in Dar es Salaam and other cities Friday, with demonstrators-primarily young activists-tearing down Hassan's campaign posters and clashing with police. While no protests were reported Saturday, tensions persisted as security forces maintained roadblocks across the commercial capital. The opposition Chadema party claimed 700 deaths in clashes, according to AFP, while a diplomatic source told the BBC at least 500 fatalities were credible. Authorities dismissed the figures as "isolated incidents," with Foreign Minister Mahmoud Kombo Thabit asserting security forces had "acted swiftly and decisively."
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, had warned of pre-election repression, citing "a wave of terror" involving disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The government denied the allegations, insisting the vote would be "free and fair." A nationwide internet shutdown further obscured the scale of violence, though the UN, UK, Canada, and Norway joined calls for restraint, condemning reports of "large-scale fatalities" tied to the security response.
International reactions and calls for restraint
"I am deeply concerned about the situation in Tanzania, including reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations. I urge all parties to prevent further escalation."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Western diplomats echoed Guterres' concerns, with statements from London, Ottawa, and Oslo urging an end to the bloodshed. The US State Department had not issued a formal response by Saturday, though analysts noted Tanzania's strategic importance in East Africa could temper criticism from Western allies.
Background: Hassan's rise and CCM's grip
Hassan, Tanzania's first female president, assumed office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli. Her reelection extends CCM's six-decade dominance, though critics argue the party's control over institutions-from the judiciary to the electoral commission-has eroded democratic checks. The army chief's warnings to protesters Friday underscored the government's zero-tolerance stance, even as rights groups documented arbitrary arrests and media suppression.
What's next
Hassan is expected to be sworn in within days, though the opposition vowed to challenge the results. With Zanzibar's Mwinyi already inaugurated, attention turns to whether the African Union or regional blocs like the East African Community will press for an independent review. Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam's streets remained under heavy surveillance Saturday, with residents reporting sporadic arrests.
