Tanzania’s electoral commission has declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of Saturday’s election, securing nearly 98% of the vote. The announcement comes after a week of violent protests across the country.
Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, now begins a five-year term leading Tanzania, home to 68 million people.
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The election triggered unrest during Wednesday’s voting, with demonstrators tearing down banners, setting government buildings on fire, and clashing with police, who responded with teargas and gunfire. The unrest was fueled by the electoral commission’s exclusion of Hassan’s two main challengers and allegations of widespread repression.
Tanzania’s main opposition party reported that hundreds of people were killed during the protests, while the UN human rights office cited credible reports of at least 10 deaths across three cities.
The government dismissed opposition claims as “hugely exaggerated” and rejected criticisms of its human rights record.
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