Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won a landslide re-election, according to official results announced Saturday, following an election marred by the imprisonment or disqualification of key opposition candidates and days of violent protests.
The electoral commission reported that Hassan received 97.66% of the vote, sweeping every constituency.
A swift swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for Saturday, state television confirmed.
The main opposition party, Chadema, claims that hundreds of people have been killed by security forces since protests erupted on election day last Wednesday.
Chadema was barred from participating in the elections, and its leader is facing treason charges.
Hassan first became president in 2021 after the sudden death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, and has since faced resistance from factions within the military and Magufuli loyalists.
Analysts say her decisive electoral win was intended to solidify her hold on power.
Human rights organizations have accused Hassan’s administration of overseeing a “wave of terror” in the lead-up to the vote, including high-profile abductions and crackdowns in the final days.
Despite a significant security presence, election day descended into chaos, with protesters tearing down posters, clashing with police, and attacking polling stations.
The government responded with an internet shutdown and a nationwide curfew.
A Chadema spokesperson told AFP that approximately 700 people have died, citing information collected from hospitals and clinics across the country.
A security source and a diplomat in Dar es Salaam confirmed that fatalities likely number in the hundreds.
President Hassan has not publicly commented on the unrest.
Her administration denies allegations of excessive force, but the internet blackout and strict lockdown measures have made independent reporting extremely difficult.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the situation, including reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations.
Public anger has largely been directed at Hassan’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, who is accused of playing a role in the crackdown.
While there have been unverified reports that some army units sided with protesters, army chief Jacob Mkunda publicly reaffirmed loyalty to Hassan, labeling protesters as “criminals.”
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo stated Friday that the government has “no figures” on casualties, insisting that “currently, no excessive force has been used.”
