Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission has declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the country’s presidential election, granting her a second term in office with nearly 98 percent of the vote.
The landslide victory, however, has been marred by widespread unrest and accusations of repression. Several of Hassan’s main challengers were either jailed or disqualified ahead of the polls, fueling allegations from opposition parties that the election was neither free nor fair.
Since Wednesday, violent protests have erupted across major cities, with opposition groups claiming that hundreds of people have been killed by security forces. Multiple foreign diplomats have described the reports of mass casualties as credible, though the Tanzanian government has yet to release any official figures or confirm fatalities.
Hassan, who first became president in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, campaigned on a platform of stability and economic growth. Her ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has maintained an unbroken grip on power for more than 60 years, making it one of Africa’s longest-ruling political movements.
International observers have expressed concern over the conduct of the vote and the escalating violence, warning that Tanzania’s democratic credibility may be at risk unless transparency and accountability are restored in the post-election process.
