In Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the October 29 parliamentary and presidential elections, securing an alleged 98 % of the vote as the country faced nationwide protests and an internet outage.
Election Results Show 98% Vote Share
The presidential and parliamentary elections held on October 29 reported that 98 % of those who voted—almost 32 million ballots—cast their votes for President Hassan. The voter turnout was 87 %, giving her a mandate to govern for another five years.
Nationwide Protests Erupt Across the Country
For a full week after the vote, demonstrators tore down posters of Hassan and set government buildings on fire. Opponents were excluded from the ballot, with the main opposition party Chadema barred for not signing the electoral code and TunduLissu’s leader arrested on treason charges.
Despite these exclusions, the presidential prosecutor allowed ACT‑Wazalendo’s Luhagi Mpiny to run. Police responded with tear gas and firearms, raising doubts about fatal casualties; the UN Office for Human Rights reported ten deaths, while opposition groups claim hundreds. The Tanzanian foreign ministry said no credible information on victims existed.
Internet Access Cut Amid Protests
In an effort to curb vandalism and prevent casualties, authorities severed internet access across Tanzania, making it difficult to verify claims about the number of people killed or injured during the unrest.
Hassan’s Tenure and Growing Controversy
Assuming office in 2021 after the death of former President John Magufuli, Hassan’s earlier tenure as acting president (2015–2021) was praised for easing government repression. Recent criticism from both her own Revolutionary Party and the opposition focuses on arrests and alleged abductions of opposition figures, allegations she has termed under investigation without official findings.