DODOMA, Tanzania — Following her declaration as Tanzania’s President-elect, Samia Suluhu Hassan delivered a powerful victory speech, sternly condemning the violent protests that erupted after the October 29, 2025, general election and asserting the government’s absolute commitment to national security.
President Suluhu made history as the first woman to be formally elected to the highest office in Tanzania and East Africa, securing an emphatic victory with 31.91 million votes, which translated to 97.66 percent of the total, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking after receiving her certificate of election, Ms. Hassan stated that the overwhelming mandate signalled the public’s clear instruction for the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party to implement its promises.
She also congratulated the other presidential contenders for “conducting campaigns with civility,” and called for national unity.
“The 2025 election is now done. It is now time to stand together as a nation,” Ms. Hassan said. She also commended INEC for presiding over a “free, open and fair” election.
Condemning protests and vowing security
The central focus of her address was a sharp rebuke of the civil unrest witnessed in various areas on Election Day, which she termed “uncouth.”
“What happened in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Songwe were neither civil nor patriotic,” she said, directly challenging the motivations of the demonstrators.
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She then delivered a defining line of her speech: “A patriot builds the country, not to tear down what was built by the energy and the sweat of the citizens. The government utterly condemns those happenings.”
President Suluhu stressed that protecting the nation’s stability was non-negotiable, warning that authorities would use all necessary measures to maintain law and order.
“On the issue of the county’s safety and the United Republic of Tanzania, there is no alternative but to use all the security tactics to remain with a safe country,” she added.
The victory speech confirms her immediate prioritisation of restoring stability after a deeply divisive election that drew strong criticism from opposition parties and international observers.
