Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – November 1, 2025 – In a result that has deepened a national crisis, Tanzania's National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced on Saturday that President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a resounding re-election victory, capturing 97.66% of the votes in the October 29 general election. The declaration, broadcast live on state television, came after days of violent protests that have left the country reeling, with opposition leaders claiming hundreds of deaths at the hands of security forces.
Hassan, 65, received approximately 31.9 million votes out of more than 32.6 million cast, according to NEC Chairman George Simbachawene. Voter turnout was reported at nearly 87% of the country's 37.6 million registered voters, a figure the commission hailed as a testament to democratic participation. "The people of Tanzania have spoken clearly," Simbachawene said during the announcement in the administrative capital, Dodoma. "This election reflects the will of the nation, and President Hassan will be sworn in swiftly to continue her work for prosperity and unity."
The outcome, however, has been met with fierce condemnation from opposition parties, international observers, and human rights groups, who described the vote as neither free nor fair. Hassan's two primary challengers – Tundu Lissu of the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) party and Luhaga Mpina of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) – were disqualified by the NEC months before the polls. Lissu, a prominent critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, faces treason charges and remains in custody, while Mpina was barred for alleged violations of electoral codes. Chadema, Tanzania's largest opposition force, boycotted the election entirely, labeling it a "sham coronation" orchestrated to entrench CCM dominance.
This marks Hassan's first full term as president after ascending to the role in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli. A Zanzibar native and the country's first female leader, Hassan campaigned on continuity with Magufuli's economic nationalism while promising reforms to ease COVID-19 restrictions and boost foreign investment. Her administration has touted steady GDP growth of around 5–6% annually, infrastructure projects like the Bagamoyo Port expansion, and low inflation rates under 4%. Supporters, including CCM loyalists, point to these achievements as justification for the landslide, arguing that Hassan's unopposed status simply underscores her popularity in a nation where CCM has held power since independence in 1961.
Yet, the path to this "victory" was paved with controversy. In the lead-up to the election, rights organizations documented a surge in repression. Amnesty International reported over 200 cases of enforced disappearances since 2019, many targeting opposition figures, journalists, and activists. A United Nations panel of human rights experts in June expressed alarm at this "pattern of repression," including arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial actions aimed at silencing dissent. Chadema's deputy leader was among those detained, and the party's headquarters in Dar es Salaam was raided multiple times. Independent media outlets faced censorship, with several news websites blocked and foreign journalists largely barred from covering the vote on the mainland.
Election day itself descended into chaos. Protests erupted in major cities including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha, fueled by anger over the opposition's exclusion. Demonstrators – many young and chanting slogans like "No Samia, no peace!" – tore down Hassan's campaign posters, vandalized government vehicles, and set fire to polling stations and a petrol station in Dar es Salaam. Eyewitnesses described clashes where police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. Videos circulating on social media – before a nationwide internet blackout – showed burning tires blocking roads and security forces firing into crowds. By evening, authorities imposed a 6 p.m. curfew in Dar es Salaam and other hotspots, ordering civil servants and students to stay home.
The violence has not abated. On Thursday and Friday, protests entered their third day, with reports of intensified crackdowns. Chadema spokesman John Kitoka told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that party members, visiting hospitals and clinics nationwide, had documented around 700 deaths – 350 in Dar es Salaam alone and over 200 in Mwanza. "The death toll could be much higher," Kitoka warned, citing nighttime killings during the curfew when witnesses are scarce. A security source and a Western diplomat in Dar es Salaam corroborated the scale, estimating fatalities "in the hundreds," with morgues overwhelmed and hospitals refusing to release casualty figures out of fear of reprisals.
The UN Human Rights Office, in a statement Friday, confirmed "credible reports" of at least 10 deaths in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro, where security forces used firearms and tear gas to disperse crowds. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed being "deeply concerned" by the reports of deaths and injuries, urging all parties to exercise restraint and respect human rights. Foreign ministers from the UK, Canada, and Norway issued a joint call for "maximum restraint," warning of a "high risk of further escalation." Amnesty International documented at least two deaths early on but labeled the overall violence "deeply disturbing."
Tanzania's government has pushed back forcefully. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, in interviews with Al Jazeera and Reuters, dismissed the casualty figures as "exaggerated" and insisted no excessive force was used. "There’s no number until now of any protesters killed," Kombo said, attributing the unrest to "criminal elements" vandalizing property, including electricity utilities and police vehicles. He described the incidents as "pockets of violence" rather than widespread chaos. The internet shutdown, which began on election day and persisted intermittently, was justified as a measure to prevent disinformation, though critics argue it has stifled verification and amplified fears.
Amid the turmoil, unverified reports emerged of internal rifts within the security apparatus. Social media posts and opposition sources alleged that some army units in Arusha sympathized with protesters, refusing orders to fire on crowds. Army Chief Jacob Mkunda swiftly quelled such rumors on Thursday, reaffirming loyalty to Hassan and branding demonstrators "criminals" who must face justice. Analysts suggest the election was partly an effort by Hassan to consolidate power against internal CCM factions and military hardliners nostalgic for Magufuli's authoritarian style.
Public fury has also turned toward Hassan's family. Critics, including Chadema activists, have accused her son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, of coordinating the crackdown from behind the scenes, though no evidence has been publicly substantiated. Hassan herself has remained silent since the violence erupted, focusing instead on post-announcement remarks celebrating the vote as a milestone for women's leadership in Africa.
Internationally, reactions are mixed. The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, congratulated Hassan, praising the "trust and confidence" of Tanzanians. Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud echoed the sentiment, pledging to deepen bilateral ties. However, European Parliament members, after limited observation, deemed the process "marred by irregularities" and obstruction of monitors. The U.S. State Department, in a cautious statement, called for transparency while noting concerns over pre-election detentions.
As Tanzania grapples with this pivotal moment, the stakes extend beyond politics. The East African nation, home to 70 million people and a key player in regional trade via the East African Community, risks economic fallout from the instability. Tourism to sites like Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro could suffer, while investor confidence in mining and agriculture – sectors driving 25% of GDP – wavers. Youth unemployment, hovering at 13%, fueled much of the protest energy, with demonstrators voicing frustrations over inequality despite growth figures.
Chadema has vowed to sustain protests until electoral reforms are enacted, including an independent commission and release of detainees. On Saturday morning, Dar es Salaam streets were eerily quiet under heavy security, with roadblocks at key intersections. No major clashes were reported post-announcement, but tension lingers. As Hassan prepares for inauguration – likely within days – the question remains: Can she bridge the divide, or will this election scar Tanzania's democratic fabric irreparably?
This crisis echoes broader African trends, from Cameroon's disputed polls to Ivory Coast's recent unrest, where incumbents cling to power amid youth-led dissent. For now, Tanzania stands at a crossroads, its future hinging on whether dialogue supplants bullets. Independent verification efforts continue, but with media access restricted, the full story may take weeks to emerge.
