Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan emerged victorious in a landslide victory following an election marred by violent protests triggered by the exclusion of her main rivals. The country’s electoral commission announced that Hassan secured over 31.9 million votes, equivalent to 97.66% of the total votes cast, securing a five-year term in office.
Deadly demonstrations erupted during the election, with protestors dismantling banners of Hassan and setting ablaze government structures. Security forces responded with tear gas and gunfire, as tension escalated over the exclusion of Hassan’s prominent challengers and reported arrests and disappearances of opposition figures.
Addressing the nation from Dodoma, Hassan condemned the protests as irresponsible and unpatriotic, emphasizing the paramount importance of national security. Meanwhile, Tanzania’s leading opposition party, Chadema, alleged that hundreds of individuals lost their lives during the unrest, a claim disputed by the government.
International flights were canceled, and access to the internet was restricted as authorities imposed a nationwide curfew in response to the turmoil. The disruption also impacted operations at Dar es Salaam’s essential port, affecting fuel imports and mineral exports across the region.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, called for a comprehensive investigation into allegations of excessive force used during the protests and mourned the loss of lives. Tanzanian officials rebuffed claims of disproportionate force, attributing the disturbances to isolated incidents orchestrated by criminal elements.
The voter turnout, reportedly close to 87% of the country’s 37.6 million registered voters, raised skepticism among critics, citing the vast difference from the previous elections. Hassan, who succeeded the late John Magufuli in 2021, faced scrutiny for the handling of dissent, including reported arrests and disappearances of political opponents.
Despite initial acclaim for her governance style, Hassan encountered mounting criticism for alleged rights violations. Notably, she highlighted infrastructural achievements during her tenure, such as expanding transportation networks and enhancing power generation capacity.
