Victory Amid Violence: Tanzania's President Secures Second Term

Sun Nov 30 2025 22:17:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Tanzania's presidential election, securing a controversial second term amidst nationwide unrest and allegations of voter suppression. The election results have faced significant opposition criticism, and reports of violence and casualties continue to emerge.

Tanzania's electoral commission has announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan won approximately 98% of the votes in the recent election. However, the vote has sparked widespread unrest, with opposition parties claiming the process was unfair and undemocratic, leading to hundreds of casualties. International observers have raised concerns about transparency, and the government has downplayed the extent of the violence. Amidst the crisis, internet blackouts hinder accurate reporting of the situation on the ground.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Tanzania's presidential election, securing another term amid days of unrest across the country.

Samia won 98% of the votes in Wednesday's poll, the electoral commission said. In her Saturday victory speech, she said the election was 'free and democratic', accusing protesters of being 'unpatriotic'.

Opposition parties rejected the results, calling the vote a mockery of the democratic process, as Samia's main challengers had either been imprisoned or barred from running.

International observers have expressed concern over the lack of transparency and turmoil, reportedly leaving hundreds dead and injured. The nationwide internet shutdown is complicating efforts to verify these claims.

The government has attempted to diminish the scale of the violence, extending a curfew to quell unrest. Security forces were deployed across major cities, while demonstrators protested in the streets, accusing the government of suppressing dissent.

Receiving her victory certificate, Samia praised the security forces for their handling of the situation but condemned the violence as unpatriotic. Meanwhile, opposition accusations of electoral fraud and suppression continue to dominate the narrative.

As the political climate remains tense, the international community, including UN chief Antonio Guterres, has voiced concerns about the ongoing violence and the need for all parties to prevent further escalation.