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Tanzanian President Inaugurated Amid Protests and Information Clampdown

Published By admin on November 3rd, 2025

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Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was scheduled for her inauguration on Monday. The ceremony proceeded with the internet remaining inaccessible following election-related disturbances, which the opposition alleges resulted in the deaths of hundreds of citizens at the hands of security personnel.

The electoral body declared that Hassan had secured 98 per cent of the total vote.

However, the primary opposition party, Chadema, which had been prohibited from participating in the poll, has rejected the outcome. They have demanded a new vote, describing last Wednesday’s election as a “farce.” State television reported that the public was excluded from attending the swearing-in ceremony, which was moved to the State House in the capital, Dodoma, instead of the customary stadium location.

A complete internet blackout has been enforced since the protests began on election day, severely limiting the flow of reliable information out of the East African nation.

Allegations of Fatalities and Security Operations

A diplomatic source revealed that there were credible accounts of numerous fatalities—possibly hundreds, or even thousands—recorded at medical facilities across Tanzania. Chadema informed AFP that they had documented “no less than 800” deaths by Saturday, though independent verification of these numbers has been impossible. The government has made no official comment regarding any deaths, apart from denying accusations that “excessive force” was deployed.

With schools and universities remaining shut on Monday and public transit suspended, the diplomatic source expressed “worrying reports” that the police were utilizing the internet blockade to gain time while they “pursue opposition members and demonstrators” who might possess video evidence of the alleged atrocities from the previous week.

Dar es Salaam and other major urban centers were noticeably quieter over the weekend under a comprehensive near-total lockdown. An AFP journalist observed police stopping almost every person moving through the city, scrutinizing IDs and bags, and permitting businesses to open only during the afternoon.

On the island of Zanzibar—which enjoys more political autonomy and experienced fewer clashes—AFP reporters witnessed masked, armed individuals patrolling in the days following the election, operating without visible identification or insignia.

An advocacy group in neighboring Kenya presented disturbing footage on Sunday, claiming it originated from inside Tanzania and included scenes of dead bodies amassed in the street. These images could not be independently authenticated.

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV requested prayers for Tanzania, noting that post-election violence had erupted “with numerous victims.” The Pope stated, “I urge everyone to avoid all forms of violence and to pursue the path of dialogue.”

Context: The “Wave of Terror”

Hassan assumed the presidency after the sudden demise of her predecessor, John Magufuli, in 2021. Analysts suggest she sought a decisive election victory to consolidate her authority and silence dissent within the ruling party.

Human rights organizations allege that she presided over a “wave of terror” in the lead-up to the vote, including a series of high-profile kidnappings that intensified just before the election. Despite a heavy security presence, election day devolved into disorder as crowds nationwide marched into the streets, defacing her campaign posters and attacking police and voting centers, which led to the internet shutdown and curfew.

AFP

 

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