Tanzania Inaugurates President Amid Post-Election Violence and Internet Blackout

Photo credit: AFP

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was officially inaugurated on Monday in Dodoma under heightened security, following an election marred by violence, opposition exclusion, and a nationwide internet blackout

The electoral commission announced that Hassan won 98 percent of the vote. The main opposition party, Chadema, which was barred from participating, rejected the results and called for fresh elections, labeling last Wednesday’s vote a “sham.”

In her inauguration address, Hassan urged “unity and solidarity” while alleging that some of the youth protesters came from outside Tanzania. She said security agencies are investigating the unrest and pledged a return to normalcy. Unlike previous inaugurations, the ceremony was held behind closed doors at the State House rather than a public stadium.

Reports of unrest have been widespread, though verification remains difficult due to the ongoing internet blackout. A diplomatic source told AFP that hundreds, potentially thousands, of deaths may have occurred during the post-election unrest, though the government has denied claims of excessive force. Chadema reported recording at least 800 deaths, figures that could not be independently confirmed.

The unrest led to widespread disruptions: schools and colleges remained closed, public transport was halted, and some religious services did not take place. Prices for basic goods surged under lockdown conditions, and police were reported stopping residents in major cities for ID

checks while limiting business hours.

On Zanzibar, AFP journalists observed masked, armed men patrolling without identification in the days following the election. Rights groups in Kenya also released footage purportedly showing casualties inside Tanzania, though the images remain unverified.

Pope Leo XIV called for prayers and dialogue in Tanzania, warning against further violence and emphasizing peaceful resolution.

Analysts note that Hassan, who assumed the presidency in 2021 after the sudden death of John Magufuli, sought a decisive mandate to consolidate her position and silence internal party critics. Observers from the Southern African Development Community highlighted the exclusion of opposition candidates and censorship, concluding that many Tanzanians were unable to freely express their democratic choice.