Tanzanian President Hassan Wins Disputed Election with Over 97% of Vote
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured a landslide victory in the country’s recent election, winning over 97% of the vote according to official results announced today, a result that is likely to deepen concerns about the state of democracy in the East African nation.
The Oct. 29 election was marked by violence and protests in major cities as demonstrators challenged the results and attempted to halt the vote counting process. The military has been deployed alongside police to quell the unrest, and internet connectivity has been intermittent across the country, disrupting daily life. Universities have postponed reopening, initially scheduled for Nov. 3, due to the ongoing instability. Credible reports indicate at least 10 deaths in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro, according to Seif Magango, a spokesman for the U.N. human rights office, who spoke at a U.N. briefing in Geneva yesterday.
The election took place amidst restrictions on opposition figures, with several key leaders either barred from running or imprisoned. Tundu Lissu, leader of the Chadema opposition group, remains jailed on treason charges, and Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo group was prevented from participating. This outcome extends the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s decades-long rule, a period characterized by a gradual shift towards authoritarianism, as detailed in reports by Amnesty International. The CCM party, which has maintained ties with the Communist Party of China, has been in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern and urged all parties to prevent further escalation, while the foreign ministers of the U.K., Canada, and Norway issued a joint statement citing “credible reports of a large number of fatalities and significant injuries.” Tanzania’s political landscape has been evolving, and this election result raises questions about the future of multi-party democracy in the region; learn more about Tanzania’s political dynamics from the International Crisis Group.
Authorities have not yet released comprehensive figures on casualties, but have stated they are working to restore calm and stability throughout the country.
