Tanzania President wins re-election amid protest

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has officially been declared the winner of the presidential election, securing a second term in office amid widespread unrest and controversy.

The National Electoral Commission announced that Samia, representing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, won nearly 98% of the votes, receiving approximately 31.9 million of the 32 million ballots cast.

Tanzania President wins re-election amid protest

Voter turnout was reported at around 87% of the country’s 37.6 million registered voters. Electoral chief Jacobs Mwambegele confirmed the results on Saturday, stating, “I hereby declare Samia Suluhu Hassan as the winner of the presidential election under the CCM party.”

In Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago that elects its own government, incumbent President Hussein Mwinyi of CCM also won decisively with nearly 80% of the vote. Opposition parties in Zanzibar, however, accused authorities of “massive fraud,” with Mwinyi’s swearing-in ceremony currently taking place at Amaan Complex Stadium.

The elections were marred by violent protests, particularly in Dar es Salaam and other major cities. Demonstrators tore down campaign posters and clashed with security forces, despite warnings from the army chief to end the unrest. Most protesters were young Tanzanians who denounced the elections as unfair, citing the suppression of opposition leaders—one jailed and another barred from contesting on technical grounds.

Chadema, the main opposition party, claimed around 700 people had died during the clashes, while a diplomatic source suggested at least 500 fatalities. The government, however, has minimized the scale of the unrest. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Kombo Thabit described the incidents as “a few isolated pockets” and said security forces responded swiftly and decisively.

Only two major opposition candidates were allowed to contest: Tundu Lissu, detained on treason charges which he denies, and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, excluded on technical grounds. Sixteen smaller parties also participated, though none hold significant influence.

The CCM party has maintained political dominance in Tanzania since independence, never losing a national election. Ahead of the vote, human rights groups, including Amnesty International, raised concerns over government repression, citing enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures. The government rejected these claims, insisting the elections would be free and fair.

Samia Suluhu Hassan became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli. Despite her official victory, tensions remain high, with security forces maintaining a strong presence in major cities as the country navigates post-election unrest.