Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured a sweeping victory in the country’s general election, winning 97.66 per cent of the vote, according to official results released on Saturday.
The National Electoral Commission announced the results on state television, declaring that Hassan dominated in all constituencies.
State media added that a brief swearing-in ceremony would be held later in the day.
However, the election was marred by days of violent protests, reports of mass arrests, and allegations of killings by security forces.
The main opposition party, Chadema, claimed that hundreds of its supporters were killed following unrest that erupted on election day last Wednesday.
According to the party’s spokesman, about 700 people lost their lives, citing figures obtained from hospitals and health centres nationwide. Security sources and diplomats in Dar es Salaam also confirmed to AFP that deaths were “in the hundreds.”
Rights groups accused the government of using intimidation and violence to suppress dissent ahead of the polls, describing the pre-election atmosphere as a “wave of terror.”
They alleged that opposition figures were abducted and detained, while Chadema was barred from contesting the election and its leader put on trial for treason.
Despite a heavy security presence, election day turned chaotic as demonstrators stormed the streets, pulling down Hassan’s campaign posters and attacking police posts and polling centres.
The government responded by imposing a curfew, shutting down internet access, and tightening media restrictions across the country.
President Hassan, who rose to power in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, has not made any public statement since the crisis began. Her administration has denied using “excessive force,” insisting that no official casualty figures have been confirmed.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo told Al Jazeera that “no excessive force has been used,” and that “there’s no number until now of any protesters killed.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” about the situation, including reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations.
Much of the public outrage has been directed at Hassan’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, who is accused by opposition groups of leading the government’s crackdown on protesters.
Meanwhile, reports of divisions within the military surfaced, though Army Chief Jacob Mkunda declared loyalty to the president, labelling the demonstrators as “criminals.”