Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in for a second term following a controversial and violent election marred by reports of killings and mass arrests.
The swearing-in ceremony, held on Monday in Dodoma, took place under tight security at a military parade ground—an unusual departure from the country’s traditional open-stadium inaugurations. The event was closed to the public but broadcast live on state television, with select dignitaries in attendance, including the presidents of Somalia, Zambia, Mozambique, and Burundi.
President Samia secured 98 percent of the total vote in an election widely condemned by opposition groups and international observers, who alleged widespread irregularities and the exclusion of key opposition figures through arrests and disqualifications.
Rights organizations reported hundreds of deaths during post-election protests, though the government has dismissed the reports and downplayed the scale of the violence. Efforts to independently verify the casualties have been hindered by a nationwide internet blackout that began on election day.
Clad in her signature red headscarf and dark sunglasses, Samia took her oath of office and praised the electoral commission for what she described as a process of “unquestionable efficiency.” She also expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and destruction of property, calling the violence “a stain on Tanzania’s image.”
The president further claimed that foreign nationals were involved in some of the disturbances, assuring citizens that security agencies are investigating the matter.
Samia Suluhu Hassan first assumed office in 2021, following the death of former President John Magufuli. While her re-election cements her grip on power, the tense political climate and allegations of human rights abuses have fueled concerns over the future of democracy in Tanzania.