Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan took oath on Monday for her first elected term and promised to move on from the deadly protests that followed last week’s disputed election.
Opposition leaders have claimed that the vote was rigged and that hundreds of people died, but the government called those claims exaggerated. Hassan, who first became president in 2021 after her predecessor’s death, was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote. Her two main rivals were disqualified before the polls, according to a report by Reuters.
The UN human rights office reported that at least 10 people died during the protests that broke out on election day. The government, however, denied the opposition’s claim that the death toll was much higher and said the security response was justified.
Hassan admitted that lives were lost but did not confirm any figures. The opposition party CHADEMA, whose leader was arrested earlier this year on treason charges, said the election results were fabricated.
Who is Samia Suluhu Hassan?
Samia Suluhu Hassan has been serving as Tanzania’s president since March 19, 2021, making history as the country’s first female president and the first leader born in Zanzibar. Before taking the top job, she was Tanzania’s vice president from 2015 to 2021 and became president after the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
Born on January 27, 1960, she has spent many years in public service, working in Zanzibar’s government, serving in parliament, and earning advanced degrees in economics and community development.
The 65-year-old leader, one of only two female heads of state in Africa, was sworn in during a military ceremony in Dodoma, the capital city. “Life must continue,” Hassan told dignitaries, including presidents from Somalia, Burundi, Mozambique and Zambia.
She called the protests violent and destructive, urging Tanzanians to focus on unity and cooperation.
“Our duty is to make today better than yesterday,” she said.
Observers question election fairness
Observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), of which Tanzania is a member, said that in many areas, voters could not freely express their democratic will. They pointed to restrictions on the opposition and possible ballot box stuffing in some polling stations.
The government has defended the election, calling it fair and transparent. Officials said Hassan received 31.9 million votes out of 37.7 million registered voters, far more than her predecessor John Magufuli’s 12.5 million votes in 2020.
Internet restrictions and heavy security
Internet access, which was restricted on election day, remained partly shut down on Monday. Although protests have slowed, heavy military and police presence continued in Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub. Many civil servants were told to work from home, residents said.