Election Victory Overshadowed by Unrest in Tanzania

Sun Nov 02 2025 22:11:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amidst widespread protests and violence, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been re-elected with 98% of the vote, drawing criticism from opposition parties and international observers over the election's credibility.

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won reelection by a substantial margin, but the victory comes amidst significant unrest and allegations of election fraud. Critics argue that the election was marred by the suppression of opposition candidates and a lack of transparency, with reports of hundreds dead and injured during protests. The government maintains the election was legitimate, framing dissenters as unpatriotic. International concern grows as the situation continues to develop.

Election Victory Overshadowed by Unrest in Tanzania

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Tanzania's presidential election, securing another term amid days of unrest across the country. Samia won 98% of the votes in Wednesday's poll, as reported by the electoral commission.

In her Saturday victory speech, she claimed the election was free and democratic and accused protesters of being unpatriotic. However, opposition parties have rejected the results, calling the vote a mockery of democratic principles, as key challengers were either imprisoned or barred from participating.

International observers have expressed serious concerns regarding the election's transparency, with reports indicating that the resulting unrest has led to hundreds of fatalities and injuries. A nationwide internet shutdown has further complicated efforts to verify casualty figures.

The government has attempted to downplay the violence, extending a curfew in major cities as a response to protests. Despite an apparent absence of demonstrations on Saturday, tensions remain high in Dar es Salaam.

In her remarks following the victory, Samia emphasized the role of security forces in ensuring voting persisted despite the turmoil, labeling the violent incidents as unpatriotic. Official figures indicate a voter turnout of nearly 87%, with Samia receiving approximately 31.9 million votes.

In the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, incumbent President Hussein Mwinyi was re-elected with almost 80% of the vote, although opposition parties there have also reported alleged electoral fraud.

While the government describes the incidents as isolated pockets of violence, the opposition claims that as many as 700 people may have died in clashes with security forces. This has prompted statements of concern from international actors, including the UN and several countries, regarding the situation in Tanzania.

The political context reveals long-standing dominance by Samia's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has not lost an election since the country's independence, coupled with a history of repression experienced by opposition figures in the lead-up to this election.

Samia Suluhu Hassan's presidency marked a historic moment in Tanzania as she is the country's first female president, having assumed office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli. Her reelection now unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political tension and societal division.