Dar es Salaam, — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of a highly contested election, securing more than 97% of the vote, the country’s electoral commission announced Friday. The result extends the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s decades-long dominance, despite widespread unrest and allegations of repression.
Hassan, who assumed power in 2021 after the death of former president John Magufuli, now begins a new five-year term governing the East African nation of 68 million people.
The election was marred by violent protests, with demonstrators clashing with police across several cities. Witnesses reported teargas and live gunfire as protesters torched government buildings and tore down campaign banners. Opposition groups accused authorities of manipulating the vote and excluding major challengers.
Two key opposition leaders, Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were disqualified ahead of the polls. Lissu remains in detention facing treason and cybercrime charges, while his party was banned from contesting the election.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International and UN human rights experts, have documented arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in the lead-up to the vote.
The opposition claims hundreds were killed during this week’s protests, though the government disputes that figure, calling it “hugely exaggerated.” The UN human rights office has so far verified at least 10 deaths in three cities.
Analysts say the near-total victory cements Hassan’s control but further erodes confidence in Tanzania’s democratic institutions, deepening concerns about the country’s political direction.
