Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of the country’s disputed presidential election, securing 97.66 percent of the vote in a contest widely criticised as unfree and uncompetitive after her main rivals were barred from running.
The electoral commission announced the final results on Saturday, confirming Hassan’s sweeping victory across every constituency a margin rarely seen in multiparty politics. State media said her swearing-in ceremony would take place later in the day.
But the declaration comes amid violent unrest, deep political tension, and widespread allegations of state repression. Since election day on Wednesday, demonstrators have taken to the streets of major cities, setting government buildings on fire, tearing down Hassan’s banners, and clashing with heavily armed security forces. Reports from witnesses indicate that police fired tear gas and gunshots as protests intensified.
Chadema, the main opposition party which was barred from contesting in the election, told AFP that about 700 people had been killed during the unrest, based on figures gathered from hospitals and clinics.
The claim has not been independently verified, but it has fuelled global concern. The UN human rights office, meanwhile, confirmed credible reports of at least 10 deaths across three cities.
The tension surrounding the vote stems from the removal of key challengers long before election day. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been jailed for months on treason charges after calling for electoral reforms, while another key figure, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was barred from running. Both were considered strong contenders before being pushed out of the race.
Rights groups say Hassan’s government oversaw a wave of repression ahead of the polls, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation of critics. Reports of high-profile abductions increased sharply in the final days leading up to the election. The government has rejected all accusations of human rights violations.
Hassan has not made any public statement since the unrest began.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he was deeply concerned about the situation in Tanzania, citing reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations. Observers warn that Tanzania, once seen as one of East Africa’s more stable political systems, now faces a major credibility crisis after one of the most contentious elections in its recent history.
