Tanzania’s electoral commission announced on Saturday that President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured victory with nearly 98% of the votes in an election marred by violent protests nationwide this week. Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following her predecessor’s passing, now has a five-year term to lead the East African nation with a population of 68 million.
The election day on Wednesday saw protests erupt during the voting process, with demonstrators vandalizing banners of Hassan, setting fire to government structures, and clashes with law enforcement deploying tear gas and gunfire, as per eyewitnesses. Protesters expressed discontent over the exclusion of Hassan’s primary rivals from the election by the electoral commission and alleged widespread suppression.
The main opposition party in Tanzania claimed on Friday that hundreds died during the protests, while the U.N. human rights office reported at least 10 fatalities across three cities. The government disputed the opposition’s death toll, labeling it as exaggerated, and defended its human rights record against criticism.
The electoral commission disclosed that Hassan garnered over 31.9 million votes, representing 97.66% of the total ballots, with an 87% turnout among the country’s 37.6 million registered voters. Witnesses noted low turnout on election day due to disruptions caused by the protests.
In response to the unrest, Tanzanian authorities imposed a nationwide curfew for three consecutive nights and enforced internet restrictions. Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo refuted claims of excessive force by security forces, attributing disturbances to isolated criminal activities.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged a thorough and impartial inquiry into allegations of excessive force and lamented the loss of lives in a statement issued on Friday. President Hassan, who initially garnered praise for easing repression after taking office, has faced recent criticism for alleged arrests and abductions of political opponents.
Hassan, aged 65, has rejected accusations of widespread human rights violations, promising an investigation into reported abductions without any official results to date. Throughout her campaign, she highlighted achievements in infrastructure development, including expanding transportation networks and enhancing power generation capacity.
The main opposition party, CHADEMA, had called for demonstrations during the election, condemning it as a mere “coronation.” CHADEMA was disqualified in April for refusing to sign a code of conduct, with its leader facing treason charges. Additionally, the opposition party ACT-Wazalendo’s candidate was also disqualified, leaving minor parties as the only challengers against President Hassan.