Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was inaugurated on Monday, amid a nationwide internet blackout following violent election protests in which opposition parties allege hundreds were killed by security forces.
The Electoral Commission announced that Hassan secured 98 percent of the vote, a result rejected by the main opposition party, Chadema, which had been barred from participating.
The party has called for new elections, describing last Wednesday’s vote as a “sham.”
State television showed officials and foreign dignitaries attending the swearing-in at parade grounds in the State House in Dodoma, rather than at a stadium as is customary.
The public was barred from attending the ceremony.
A total internet shutdown has restricted the flow of information from the country. A diplomatic source cited credible reports of hundreds, possibly thousands, of deaths recorded in hospitals and clinics across Tanzania.
Chadema told AFP it had documented at least 800 deaths by Saturday, though these figures could not be independently verified. The government has denied using excessive force and has not commented on the reported fatalities.
Schools and colleges remained closed on Monday, public transport was largely halted, and some church services were canceled.
The diplomatic source suggested that authorities may be using the internet blackout to identify and apprehend opposition members and protesters who may have documented post-election violence.
In major cities including Dar es Salaam, a near-total lockdown was observed over the weekend.
AFP reporters noted police checking IDs and bags, while shops were allowed to open only in the afternoon.
In Zanzibar, where political freedoms are greater, masked armed men without visible identification were seen patrolling days after the election.
A Kenyan rights group released footage purportedly from Tanzania showing bodies piled in the streets, though this could not be independently verified.
Pope Leo XIV called for prayers and urged Tanzanians to pursue dialogue and avoid violence.
Hassan, who became president following the sudden death of John Magufuli in 2021, sought a decisive victory to solidify her leadership and silence critics within her party.
Human rights organizations have accused her government of a “wave of terror” before the vote, including abductions in the final campaign days.
Election day saw widespread unrest, with crowds destroying campaign materials, attacking police, and targeting polling stations, prompting the internet shutdown and a curfew.
Observers noted low voter turnout prior to the outbreak of violence, though the Electoral Commission later reported an 87 percent turnout.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep concern” over reports of deaths and injuries during demonstrations.
Regional leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, congratulated Hassan while urging peace and adherence to the rule of law.
