Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured a landslide re-election victory, claiming more than 97% of the vote, according to figures released in the early hours of Saturday. The electoral process has been broadly dismissed as uncompetitive, as her leading opponents were either jailed or disqualified.
Appearing in Dodoma to collect her victory certificate from the national electoral commission, she emphasized the historical weight of the moment and called for unity. “It’s time to unite our country and not destroy what we’ve built over more than six decades,” she said. “We will take all actions and involve all security agencies to ensure the country is peaceful.”
Hassan rose to power in 2021 following the sudden death of President John Pombe Magufuli, her predecessor. Now, her massive win has heightened existing fears over Tanzania’s democracy, especially among human rights organizations and political observers who describe the election as a controlled ascent rather than a contest.
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The government’s treatment of opposition figures has drawn widespread alarm. Tundu Lissu of Chadema remains behind bars facing treason charges for advocating electoral reform. Another contender, Luhaga Mpina, was barred from participating altogether. The Oct. 29 vote was accompanied by deadly unrest. Demonstrators attempting to halt vote counting clashed with security forces, prompting the deployment of the military and intermittent nationwide internet disruptions.
The unrest led the government to delay the reopening of universities, while Dar es Salaam and other cities saw heavy police presence and blocked roads the following day. Ten fatalities were reported by U.N. officials, though local authorities remain silent on exact casualty numbers.
Western governments have condemned the state’s forceful response. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the U.K., Canada, and Norway cited “credible reports of a large number of fatalities and significant injuries, as a result of the security response to protests.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged restraint and an end to escalating tensions.
Hassan’s triumph reinforces the dominance of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Africa’s longest-ruling party, which has governed Tanzania since independence in 1961. Though Tanzania once touted its stability, and its leaders tolerated limited dissent, rights groups argue that the current administration has pushed the nation further into autocratic rule. “The government has curbed freedom of expression,” the International Crisis Group wrote, pointing to clampdowns on media platforms and opposition voices.
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Despite growing frustration in urban youth circles, CCM remains firmly entrenched, especially in rural areas where it continues to command loyalty through a legacy of relative peace, AP reported.
