Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the overwhelming winner of the country’s highly contentious presidential election, securing nearly 98 percent of the vote in a contest marred by violence, opposition crackdowns, and widespread accusations of fraud. The Independent Electoral Commission announced on Saturday that Hassan had won 97.66 percent of the ballots cast in Wednesday’s vote, sweeping every constituency. Her victory, however, came after the main opposition parties were barred from contesting, triggering days of violent protests across the country. Opposition party Chadema, which was excluded from the race, rejected the result, describing it as “a mockery of the democratic process.” Party spokesperson John Kitoka called for an international intervention to oversee a new, credible election. “We are calling for the intervention by a credible body to oversee another fresh election,” he said. In her victory speech in Dodoma, Hassan condemned the protesters, calling their actions “neither responsible nor patriotic.” She vowed to maintain security, saying, “When it comes to the safety of Tanzania, there is no debate – we must use all available security avenues to ensure the country remains safe.” The disputed election sparked mass unrest across major cities including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza, as demonstrators decried what they called a “sham” vote. Witnesses reported fires, the destruction of government buildings, and clashes with security forces who responded with live ammunition and tear gas. Internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed that mobile and social media access had been restricted during and after the vote. Chadema claimed on Saturday that at least 800 people had been killed by security forces since protests began, while the UN human rights office cited “credible reports” of at least 10 confirmed deaths in three cities. The African Union chair, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated Hassan but expressed regret over the loss of life, extending condolences to victims’ families. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo defended the government’s handling of the crisis, insisting that “no excessive force has been used” and claiming the government had “no official figures” for protester deaths. “I’ve not seen these 700 anywhere,” he told Al Jazeera. Analysts have condemned the election as one of the most repressive in Tanzania’s recent history. Alex Vines, Africa director at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), described the polls as “a campaign of harassment and intimidation,” adding that the scale of violence was “unexpected” for the country. “This is a very serious crackdown,” he said, noting that most protesters were young Tanzanians frustrated by political exclusion. President Hassan, who succeeded John Magufuli in 2021 following his sudden death, faced only 16 minor candidates after her two strongest rivals — Tundu Lissu of Chadema and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo — were either jailed or disqualified. Lissu remains imprisoned on treason charges stemming from his calls for electoral reform. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said he was “deeply concerned” by reports of deaths and injuries, calling for restraint and an independent investigation into the violence. Human rights groups, meanwhile, accuse Hassan’s administration of orchestrating a “wave of terror” marked by abductions, media restrictions, and intimidation of civil society in the lead-up to the vote. As the country reels from the unrest, observers warn that Tanzania — once seen as a bastion of stability in East Africa — is now facing its most severe political and human rights crisis in decades.
