Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has officially been sworn in for a second term in office, following a highly disputed election marred by deadly violence, internet blackouts, and widespread allegations of voter suppression.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at a military base in Dodoma, the capital, under tight security and away from the public eye. The decision to restrict attendance followed days of violent protests that erupted after opposition parties were barred from contesting the October 29 vote. State television broadcast the event, showing government officials and foreign dignitaries attending a scaled-down ceremony instead of the traditional public stadium gathering.

President Hassan, who first assumed office in 2021 after the death of former President John Magufuli, was declared the winner with 97.66% of the vote, defeating only minor opposition candidates. Her two main challengers from the Chadema Party and ACT-Wazalendo were disqualified months before the polls—a move that critics say effectively nullified democratic competition.

Widespread Protests and Deadly Crackdown

The election outcome triggered three days of unrest, particularly in Dar es Salaam and other major cities. Businesses were shuttered, streets deserted, and a nationwide internet blackout imposed as protests intensified.

Opposition party Chadema has rejected the results, branding the election a “sham” and demanding a rerun. The party alleged that hundreds of protesters were killed after police and military forces used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators, some of whom reportedly set government buildings ablaze.

According to diplomatic and human rights sources, the death toll could be in the hundreds, with one source telling AFP that hospitals across the country had recorded “hundreds, possibly thousands” of deaths and injuries. The UN Human Rights Office confirmed “credible reports” of at least 10 fatalities across Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, and Shinyanga, though it noted that the actual figures may be far higher.

Chadema also accused security forces of using the internet shutdown to target and detain opposition members and individuals who may have recorded evidence of police abuses.

Government Denies Using Excessive Force

Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo denied claims of state brutality, insisting that authorities had no official figures on protester deaths and rejecting allegations of “excessive force”. However, human rights organisations and political analysts say the government’s heavy-handed tactics reflect a broader strategy to suppress dissent and consolidate power ahead of Hassan’s second term.

Concerns Over Democracy and Human Rights

Rights watchdogs, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have documented an escalating wave of repression in Tanzania in the months leading up to the vote — including arbitrary arrests, abductions, and the silencing of opposition voices. Analysts suggest Hassan sought an overwhelming electoral mandate to solidify control within the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and silence internal critics.

Despite international condemnation, Hassan’s administration maintains that the election was free and fair, pledging to focus on national unity and economic recovery as protests continue to simmer across parts of the country.