Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in for a second term under tight security, following an election that the opposition has rejected as fraudulent and that was accompanied by deadly unrest.
The ceremony took place at a military parade ground in the capital Dodoma, rather than a public stadium as in previous years, and members of the public were not allowed to attend. The event was broadcast live on state television.
Samia was declared the winner with 98 percent of the vote. Most of her main opponents had either been arrested or prevented from standing, which left her with little competition. International observers have raised concerns about the credibility of the process, and said that widespread violence and intimidation took place both during and after polling.
A regional observer mission from the Southern African Development Community said that in many areas voters were not able to express their democratic will. The mission pointed to restrictions on the opposition and reports of ballot manipulation.
The government has downplayed the scale of the unrest. A nationwide internet shutdown remained in place from election day until Monday, making it difficult to verify casualty figures or obtain reliable information. Some opposition groups say hundreds of people were killed, while a diplomatic source said there was credible evidence of at least 500 deaths. The United Nations has confirmed at least 10 deaths in several cities.
After taking the oath of office, President Samia thanked the electoral commission for what she described as an efficient vote. She expressed sorrow for the lives lost and for the damage caused, calling the violence a stain on the country’s reputation.
Several Tanzanians have told the BBC that they have been unable to locate missing relatives since election day. One mother said she feared that her 21-year-old son may have been arrested or killed, and that she had received no information from authorities.
Daily life has been heavily disrupted. Prices of food, fuel and essential goods have risen sharply, public transport has collapsed, and schools and colleges are closed. During the ceremony, Samia instructed authorities to restore normal conditions immediately.
Police have blamed the violence on motorbike groups and on foreign nationals whom they accuse of attempting to cause disorder. Reports have also emerged of Kenyan nationals going missing inside Tanzania.
The crisis has drawn international attention. The Pope has called for prayers for the country, while the European Union and the United Nations have urged Tanzanian authorities to prevent further loss of life.
The leading opposition parties did not take part in the election. The Chadema party, which was barred from competing, says the official results have no legitimacy and is calling for a new vote.
The Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, in power since independence, continues to dominate Tanzanian politics.
Samia, who became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021 after the death of John Magufuli, now begins a second term amid one of the most turbulent political moments in the country’s recent history.
