DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzania’s Electoral Commission on Saturday officially declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of this week’s general election, handing her a five-year term with a reported nearly 98% of the vote.
The result comes just days after the polls sparked widespread, violent protests across the nation.
The victory confirms Hassan as the leader of the East African nation of 68 million, after she assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor.
Post-election turmoil and disputed casualties
The election day on Wednesday was marked by civil unrest, with witnesses reporting that demonstrators tore down Hassan’s campaign banners and set fire to government buildings.
Security forces responded by firing tear gas and gunshots into the crowds.
The protests were fueled by anger over the Electoral Commission’s decision to exclude Hassan’s two biggest challengers from the presidential race and what critics have described as pervasive political repression.
Also Read: Tanzania bars opposition presidential candidate from polls, leaving Samia Samia unchallenged
A major controversy remains over the casualty figures from the protests:
- Opposition claim: Tanzania’s main opposition party stated on Friday that hundreds of people had been killed during the unrest.
- UN report: The UN human rights office provided a more measured figure, citing credible reports indicating that at least 10 people were killed across three different cities.
- Government stance: The government has rejected criticisms of its human rights record and dismissed the opposition’s death toll as “hugely exaggerated.”
Independent verification of the casualty figures by external news agencies, including Reuters, has not been possible.
The conclusion of the vote and the announcement of Hassan’s landslide victory occur under a shadow of controversy, highlighting the country’s deepening political polarization following a highly contested electoral process.
