Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in for a second term after winning the October 29 election with a landslide 97.66% of the vote.
The election was marred by violent protests, with opposition parties and human rights groups alleging widespread irregularities and crackdowns on dissent.
The opposition party CHADEMA, which was barred from the election, claims that hundreds of people were killed in the violence, while the UN human rights office reported at least 10 deaths in three cities.
In her victory speech, Hassan described the poll as “free and democratic” and labeled protesters as “unpatriotic”.
However, opposition leaders and activists strongly disagree, citing the brutal suppression of dissent and the exclusion of key rival candidates from the election.
The international community has expressed concerns over the transparency and legitimacy of the election, with reports of internet shutdowns, arbitrary arrests, and excessive use of force by security forces.
The CCM party, which has been in power since 1961, has maintained its dominance in Tanzania’s politics, with Hassan’s victory seen as a testament to the party’s continued influence.
Nevertheless, the opposition’s rejection of the election results and the allegations of human rights abuses pose significant challenges to Hassan’s second term.
