Following the recent presidential election in Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan has made a remarkable comeback, securing an impressive 97.66% of the votes. With approximately 31.9 million ballots cast in her favor, she emerged as the clear victor in the elections held under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. The electoral chief, Jacobs Mwambegele, confirmed the results on Saturday morning, highlighting a voter turnout of nearly 87% from the country’s 37.6 million registered voters.
Election Results and Voter Engagement
In Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago, the incumbent president Hussein Mwinyi, also from CCM, achieved almost 80% of the vote in his re-election. However, the opposition has claimed substantial electoral fraud, casting doubt on the integrity of the results.
Ongoing Unrest and Protests
Despite the election results, unrest has swept across the nation. Protests erupted in Dar es Salaam and other cities on Friday, leading to confrontations with security forces. Demonstrators expressed their discontent by vandalizing Samia’s campaign materials and attacking polling locations.
- Protests primarily driven by young activists
- Accusations of an unfair election process
- Tension remains high in urban areas
Reports indicate that the protests were exacerbated by alleged instances of police violence, with the opposition claiming around 700 fatalities during these clashes. Meanwhile, a diplomatic source suggested that credible evidence points to at least 500 deaths in these violent confrontations.
International Reactions
The international community is raising alarms over the situation. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern regarding the reported violence and the loss of life. Countries like the UK, Canada, and Norway have echoed these sentiments, citing credible reports of severe injuries and fatalities linked to the security response to the protests.
Political Landscape and Opposition Response
Notably, the primary opposition figures included Tundu Lissu, currently facing treason charges, and Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, who was excluded from running due to legal complications. Although sixteen lesser-known parties were allowed to participate, they historically lack substantial public support against the CCM dominance.
Human rights organizations have condemned the government’s oppressive tactics leading up to the election, citing extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances among their concerns. However, government officials assert the election process was conducted fairly.
Samia Suluhu Hassan’s election marks her emergence as Tanzania’s first female president, stepping into the role following the death of her predecessor, President John Magufuli, in 2021. With significant challenges facing her administration, including ongoing unrest and criticisms of the electoral process, the coming months are likely to be crucial for her presidency.
