Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan won a landslide victory in an election marred by deadly protests triggered by the exclusion of her main rivals. The electoral commission announced that Hassan garnered over 31.9 million votes, representing 97.66% of the total votes, securing a five-year term.
Violence erupted during the voting process, with protesters tearing down banners of Hassan, setting government buildings on fire, and clashes with security forces involving tear gas and gunshots. Demonstrators expressed outrage over the exclusion of Hassan’s key challengers and alleged widespread arrests and abductions of opposition figures.
Following her official declaration as the winner in Dodoma, President Hassan condemned the protesters’ actions as irresponsible and unpatriotic, emphasizing the importance of national security.
Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, claimed that hundreds of people were killed during the protests, while the UN human rights office reported at least 10 confirmed deaths in multiple cities. The government disputed the opposition’s death toll as exaggerated and defended its human rights record.
In response to the unrest, authorities enforced a nationwide curfew, restricted internet access, and disrupted operations at Dar es Salaam’s vital port. International flights were canceled, impacting trade activities in the region.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a thorough investigation into allegations of excessive force, expressing concern over the loss of lives. The Tanzanian Foreign Affairs Minister denied accusations of security forces using disproportionate force, attributing the disturbances to isolated criminal incidents.
The voter turnout of nearly 87% raised skepticism among critics, noting the significant difference from the previous election under President Magufuli. Hassan, who succeeded Magufuli, initially received praise for her governance approach but has faced backlash for alleged human rights violations and political crackdowns.
During her campaign, President Hassan highlighted infrastructure developments, including road and railway expansions and increased power generation capacity.
Image Caption: Protests erupted in Tanzania over the exclusion of the president’s main challengers, leading to security measures and disruptions in trade activities.