Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in for a second term amid tight security after an election marred by violent protests and rejected by the opposition as sham.
The inauguration ceremony will be held at the military parade ground in the capital Dodoma, rather than at the stadium as in previous years. Although it is closed to the public, it is broadcast on national television.
Samia was declared the winner on Saturday with 98% of the votes. She faced little opposition, with her main rivals either imprisoned or banned from running.
International observers have raised concerns about the transparency of the election and the violent aftermath, in which hundreds of people reportedly died.
Authorities have tried to scale back the violence. Since the election day, the internet has been blocked nationwide, making it difficult to obtain national information or confirm deaths.
Wearing a red headscarf and dark glasses, Samia took the oath of office at a ceremony attended by regional leaders and dignitaries, including the presidents of Somalia, Zambia, Mozambique and Burundi. State broadcaster TBC previously said the public would not attend the event.
In her victory speech on Saturday, Samia called the polls “free and democratic” and described the protesters as “unpatriotic.”
Opposition leaders and activists say hundreds of people have been killed in clashes with security forces. The opposition Chadema party told AFP it had recorded at least 800 deaths by Saturday, while a Tanzanian diplomatic source told the BBC there was credible evidence that at least 500 people had been killed.
The UN human rights office earlier said there were credible reports that at least 10 people had been killed in three cities.
Since the unrest, prices for food, fuel and other essentials have doubled or tripled in many areas. Schools and universities are closed and public transportation is suspended.
Chadema, who is barred from competing, rejected the results announced by the National Election Commission, saying they had “no basis in reality because it is true that no real elections took place in Tanzania.” They called for new elections.
Polling places were mostly empty on election day, but election officials later said voter turnout was 87%.
On Sunday, police spokesman David Misime blamed motorcyclists and foreigners for the violent protests and acts of vandalism.
He said there were individuals who “entered the country illegally with the intent to cause chaos.”
Misime urged Tanzanians to report “unknown foreigners or foreigners whose activities in Tanzania are unclear” to authorities.
His comments come amid reports that several Kenyan nationals have gone missing in Tanzania. Kenyan activist Hussein Khalid said he had received reports from X that a Kenyan teacher had been killed and other teachers were still missing.
The situation in Tanzania has raised global concerns. Pope Leo
EU Foreign Minister Kaza Kalas urged Tanzanian authorities to exercise restraint to protect lives, while U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” by the situation, “including reports of deaths and injuries.”
The country’s two main opposition leaders did not contest the election. Tundu Lissu is being held on treason charges, which he denies, while Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party has been ruled out over legal technicalities.
Sixteen fringe parties that historically have not enjoyed significant popular support were allowed to run.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and its predecessor, Tanu, have dominated national politics and have not lost an election since independence.
Ahead of the election, human rights groups criticized the government’s crackdown, with Amnesty International citing a “wave of terrorism” that included enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings of opponents.
The government has rejected these claims, and officials have said the elections will be free and fair.
Samia took office in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female president following the death of President John Magufuli.
