Tanzania Election Controversy: President Samia Hassan Declares 98% Victory Amid Protests and Internet Blackout
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan claims a 98% election victory amid violence, mass arrests, and a nationwide internet shutdown following disputed polls.
Tanzania is on edge following the announcement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s landslide re-election victory — a result that has sparked widespread unrest, violent crackdowns, and a total communication blackout. The opposition has rejected the outcome, describing the polls as “a national tragedy disguised as democracy.”
A Victory Shrouded in Controversy
According to the Tanzanian Electoral Commission, President Hassan secured an overwhelming 98% of the vote in last week’s election. But opposition parties and international observers have questioned both the process and the credibility of the results.
The main opposition party, Chadema, which had earlier been barred from fielding candidates, dismissed the poll as a “sham election.” The party has called for a fresh vote and international intervention, alleging that hundreds of supporters were killed or arrested in the aftermath of the polls.
Officially, the government has not confirmed any deaths. However, independent human rights sources and local clinics have reportedly recorded hundreds of casualties, with some estimates suggesting the toll could reach as high as 800 deaths — figures that remain unverified due to the ongoing media blackout.
Internet Blackout and Restricted Movement
Since election day, Tanzania has been under a near-total internet blackout, cutting off journalists, activists, and citizens from communicating with the outside world.
According to diplomats monitoring the situation, authorities are using the blackout to suppress evidence of violence and locate individuals accused of documenting police abuses during the protests.
Major cities, including Dar es Salaam, have seen increased police patrols, ID checks, and curfews. Shops have been allowed to open for limited hours, while schools and public transportation remain suspended.
On the island of Zanzibar, which traditionally enjoys greater political freedom, reporters noted masked security operatives without insignia patrolling streets and monitoring residents.
International Reaction and Growing Concern
The situation has drawn global condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over “reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations,” urging Tanzanian authorities to uphold human rights and restore calm.
In a message from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV called for restraint and prayer, describing the post-election situation as “a tragedy with numerous victims.” He urged both government and opposition to “pursue the path of dialogue, not destruction.”
Meanwhile, rights organizations across East Africa, including groups in Kenya, have circulated disturbing footage allegedly showing bodies on Tanzanian streets — though the authenticity of these videos has yet to be verified.
Analysts: A Struggle for Legitimacy
Political analysts say the crisis reflects President Hassan’s effort to consolidate her authority within Tanzania’s long-ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Since taking power in 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli, Hassan has been balancing reformist promises with party hardliners’ expectations.
Observers believe her overwhelming victory figure — 98% — was meant to project unity and control but has instead deepened public mistrust.
Human rights groups accuse her government of running what one described as a “wave of fear” in the months leading up to the election, marked by arrests, disappearances, and targeted intimidation of opposition voices.
A Nation in Crisis, a Region on Alert
The unfolding crisis in Tanzania has unsettled the East African region, raising fears of spillover instability. Neighboring countries have begun quietly monitoring the situation, particularly given Tanzania’s history as a relatively stable democracy.
Observers warn that prolonged unrest could have economic and humanitarian consequences, affecting trade and displacing communities along border areas.
As the inauguration takes place behind closed doors at the State House in Dodoma, Tanzanians face uncertainty over when — or if — normalcy will return.
The internet blackout may silence Tanzania for now, but the voices of its citizens are unlikely to fade. Whether President Hassan’s overwhelming victory is remembered as a triumph of leadership or the start of an authoritarian turn will depend on what she does next — to reconcile, reform, or repress.
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Tanzania elections, Samia Suluhu Hassan, Chadema, Dodoma, Zanzibar, East Africa, human rights, Tanzania internet blackout, African politics, Peachy Media TV
