Tanzania’s electoral commission on Saturday officially declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the country’s general election, securing a commanding 98% of the vote in a poll marred by violence, opposition boycotts, and allegations of state repression.
The victory hands President Hassan — Tanzania’s first female head of state — a new five-year mandate to lead the East African nation of approximately 68 million people, four years after she assumed office following the death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, in 2021.
Tensions boiled over during and after Wednesday’s vote, with widespread reports of violent clashes between police and protesters in several regions including Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Arusha.
Witnesses told Citizen Digital that demonstrators set fire to government buildings, tore down campaign banners of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, and engaged in running battles with police, who responded with teargas and live ammunition.
“We saw soldiers firing into the air as people ran for safety,” said one resident of Mwanza. “The protests started peacefully but escalated quickly when police intervened.”
The opposition has dismissed the election results as a “sham”, accusing the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of unfairly disqualifying President Hassan’s two main challengers before the vote.
Tanzania’s main opposition coalition claims hundreds of people were killed during the protests — a figure the government has strongly denied.
The UN Human Rights Office, however, said it had received credible reports indicating that at least 10 people were killed in three cities, urging Tanzanian authorities to exercise restraint and allow for peaceful dialogue.
“We are deeply concerned about the post-election violence and urge all parties to respect human rights and avoid further escalation,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement on Friday.
Government spokesperson Hassan Abbas dismissed the opposition’s claims of mass killings as “hugely exaggerated,” maintaining that the security forces acted lawfully to restore order.
“Tanzania remains a peaceful nation. The government will not allow anarchy or the spread of falsehoods that threaten national stability,” he said.
Reuters and other international media organizations said they could not independently verify the reported casualty figures due to movement restrictions and intermittent internet shutdowns in parts of the country.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s re-election marks a significant moment in Tanzania’s political history. As the first woman to lead the country, she was initially lauded for her more open leadership style and diplomatic approach compared to her predecessor’s hardline rule.
However, critics argue that her administration has maintained tight control over the political space, with opposition parties and civil society groups facing restrictions on rallies, media coverage, and expression.
Political analysts say her landslide victory reflects both her dominance within the ruling CCM and the weakness of an opposition movement fractured by years of repression.
Kenyan and regional leaders have begun sending congratulatory messages to President Hassan, praising her for maintaining stability despite the post-election unrest.
The African Union (AU) has called for calm and urged Tanzania’s leaders to uphold democratic principles. The East African Community (EAC), of which Tanzania is a founding member, said it was closely monitoring the situation.
As celebrations and protests continue in different parts of the country, President Hassan faces a delicate balancing act — uniting a divided nation while addressing the growing concerns over governance, human rights, and economic inequality.
Political observers warn that how she handles the aftermath of this contentious election will define her second term and shape Tanzania’s democratic future.
