Tanzania’s electoral commission has declared President
Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the country’s presidential election
with 97.66 percent of the vote, claiming a voter turnout of 87
percent. However, reports from AFP journalists and other independent
observers suggested that polling stations were largely empty throughout
election day.
The election, held on Wednesday, has plunged the East
African nation into crisis, as opposition groups and civil society
organizations denounced the results as fraudulent and accused the government of
orchestrating a brutal crackdown on dissent.
According to the main opposition party, Chadema,
at least 800 people have been killed by security forces since the start
of post-election protests. A security source and a Western diplomat in Dar
es Salaam confirmed to AFP that casualties were “in the hundreds,” though
verifying the figures has been difficult due to an ongoing internet blackout
and a nationwide curfew.
Protests and Bloodshed
Widespread demonstrations erupted shortly after the
results were announced, with protesters tearing down campaign posters and
clashing with police in several cities.
Accepting her victory on state television, President
Hassan, 65, condemned the unrest, saying:
“The government strongly condemns those incidents.
When it comes to national security, there is no alternative but to employ all
defence measures.”
Chadema spokesman John Kitoka described the
election as a “mockery of the democratic process” and called for a fresh
vote, adding that the opposition would soon announce its next course of
action, which could include “national protests.”
Father Charles Kitima, secretary of the Catholic
Bishops Conference in Dar es Salaam, described the events as unprecedented
in Tanzania’s history.
“It’s a very sad event. For the first time in our
country, we are experiencing the mass killing of people protesting,” he told
AFP.
Regional and Global Reactions
While the African Union (AU) chair, Mahmoud
Ali Youssouf, congratulated Hassan on her victory, he also said he “deeply
regrets the loss of human life.”
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio
Guterres, expressed concern over “reports of deaths and injuries during the
demonstrations,” urging restraint and respect for human rights.
Meanwhile, daily life in Tanzania has been severely
disrupted. Flights have been cancelled, the Dar es Salaam port—a vital
economic hub—was temporarily shut down, and food prices have soared as shops
ran out of supplies.
“I have been staying in the mosque since Wednesday
when the violence erupted,” said Mohamed Rajab, a 52-year-old resident
of Dar es Salaam. “There is no transport. I’m not sure when I’m going back
home.”
Mounting Pressure on Hassan
President Hassan, who became Tanzania’s first female
leader following the death of former President John Magufuli in 2021,
has faced increasing criticism for alleged authoritarian tendencies.
Rights groups accuse her administration of overseeing
a “wave of terror” in the lead-up to the election, including arbitrary
arrests, abductions, and intimidation of opposition figures. Chadema was barred
from participating in the vote, while its leader was placed on trial for
treason.
Despite unconfirmed reports that sections of the army
may have sympathized with protesters, the army chief, Jacob Mkunda,
publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to President Hassan, labeling demonstrators as
“criminals.”
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo dismissed
accusations of excessive force, saying:
“Currently, no excessive force has been used. There’s
no number until now of any protesters killed.”
However, public anger continues to grow, with much of
it directed at Hassan’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, who has been
accused of coordinating pre-election crackdowns—a claim the government denies.
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