President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured another term as Tanzania’s leader after winning the presidential election with an overwhelming 98% of votes, but the victory is overshadowed by violent unrest that has left hundreds feared dead and raised serious questions about the election’s fairness.
The electoral commission announced on Saturday that Samia Suluhu Hassan, representing the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, won approximately 31.9 million votes out of 32 million cast in Wednesday’s election, translating to 97.66% support. Turnout was high at nearly 87% of the 37.6 million registered voters, according to electoral chief Jacobs Mwambegele. In the semi-autonomous Zanzibar, incumbent President Hussein Mwinyi also won re-election with about 80% of the vote, though the opposition there alleged massive fraud, as reported by the AP news agency.
The announcement came amid days of protests and clashes across Tanzania, particularly in the port city of Dar es Salaam, where demonstrators took to the streets, tearing down election posters and attacking police and polling stations. The unrest continued on Friday despite warnings from the army chief, with no protests reported on Saturday morning but tension remaining high as security forces manned roadblocks across the city. Authorities have extended a curfew in an effort to quell the violence, though the government has sought to downplay its scale.
Reports of casualties vary widely, with a spokesperson from the opposition Chadema party claiming on Friday that around 700 people had been killed in clashes with security forces. A diplomatic source in Tanzania told the BBC there was credible evidence of at least 500 deaths, though the exact toll is difficult to verify due to a nationwide internet shutdown. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Kombo Thabit described the violence as “a few isolated pockets of incidents” and asserted that security forces acted swiftly and decisively to address the situation.
The protests are largely led by young Tanzanians who denounce the election as unfair, accusing the government of undermining democracy by suppressing main opposition leaders. Key contenders were sidelined: Tundu Lissu is held on treason charges, which he denies, and Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party was excluded on legal technicalities. Only sixteen fringe parties, with little historical public support, were allowed to run against CCM, which has dominated Tanzanian politics since independence and never lost an election.
International observers have expressed deep concern over the lack of transparency in the electoral process and the widespread turmoil. Ahead of the election, rights groups like Amnesty International condemned government repression, citing a “wave of terror” involving enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures—claims the government rejected while insisting the vote would be free and fair. The internet shutdown has further hampered independent verification of events on the ground.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president, came to power in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli. While she initially introduced some reforms, her hesitant approach has fueled political anger, contributing to the current unrest. The election outcome solidifies CCM’s grip on power but raises alarms about democratic backsliding and human rights in the country.
As the curfew remains in place, the situation is volatile, with implications for Tanzania’s stability and its relations with the international community. The government faces mounting pressure to address the allegations of electoral fraud and violence, while the opposition and protesters demand accountability and democratic reforms in the weeks ahead.