Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured a landslide victory in the country’s 2025 general election, winning 97.66 percent of the vote, according to official results announced by the National Electoral Commission on Saturday.
The outcome follows days of deadly protests and widespread allegations of voter suppression, opposition arrests, and internet blackouts that rights groups say have plunged one of East Africa’s most stable nations into crisis.
Hassan, who first assumed office in 2021 following the sudden death of President John Magufuli, was swiftly sworn in for a new term in a brief ceremony broadcast on state television.
Opposition Barred, Hundreds Reported Killed
The main opposition party Chadema was barred from the ballot, and its leader Tundu Lissu remains in detention facing treason charges. Other candidates from smaller parties, such as ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina, were also prevented from contesting.
Despite a heavy security presence, protests erupted nationwide on election day and throughout the week. Demonstrators tore down posters, clashed with police, and attacked polling stations in several cities.
Chadema’s spokesperson John Kitoka told AFP that party monitors estimated between 700 and 800 people had been killed by security forces, citing figures gathered from hospitals and clinics. Independent verification remains difficult due to an ongoing internet shutdown and curfew that have restricted communication across Tanzania.
A security source and Western diplomat in Dar es Salaam confirmed that “deaths are in the hundreds.”
Government Denies Using Excessive Force
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo rejected allegations of a violent crackdown, insisting in an interview with Al Jazeera that “no excessive force has been used” and that the government “has no official figures” on casualties.
In her victory speech in Dodoma, President Hassan said Tanzanians had “voted overwhelmingly for a female leader” and urged unity:
“It’s time to unite our country and not destroy what we’ve built over more than six decades.”
She condemned the demonstrations as “neither responsible nor patriotic,” warning that her administration would employ “all available security measures” to maintain peace.
Global Concern and Diplomatic Reactions
The international community has reacted with alarm. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” about reports of deaths and injuries, calling for restraint and transparency.
African Union Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf congratulated President Hassan on her victory but “deeply regretted the loss of human life” during post-electoral unrest.
Analysts at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) described the situation as “a campaign of harassment and intimidation” against opposition supporters.
“It clearly is not a credible election,” said Alex Vines, ECFR’s Africa Director, adding that the violent scenes were unprecedented in Tanzania’s modern political history.
Youth Discontent and Uncertain Future
Observers note that Generation Z Tanzanians—many facing unemployment and political frustration—were at the forefront of protests. The government’s ongoing internet restrictions and nationwide curfew have further fueled resentment.
As President Hassan begins her new term, the challenge ahead will be restoring public trust and repairing Tanzania’s international image after an election marred by bloodshed and censorship.
