Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared winner of the country’s general election with 97.66% of the vote, according to official results announced on state television on Saturday.
The victory comes after days of violent protests and allegations of repression against opposition groups.
The electoral commission stated that Hassan won in every constituency, prompting authorities to schedule a swift swearing-in ceremony.
However, the outcome has been widely contested by the main opposition party, Chadema, which was barred from participating in the election. Several of its leaders were detained ahead of the polls, including its presidential hopeful who is currently facing treason charges.
A spokesperson for Chadema told AFP that the protests which erupted on election day on Wednesday resulted in mass casualties.
“We have recorded around 700 deaths, using figures compiled from hospitals and clinics across the country,” the spokesperson alleged.
Independent sources confirmed widespread violence. A diplomatic official in Dar es Salaam and a security source also told AFP that fatalities were “in the hundreds.”
The government has rejected allegations of brutality. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo insisted that authorities only acted to maintain order.
“Currently, no excessive force has been used,” Kombo said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
“There is no confirmed number of protesters killed at this time.”
The unrest has been accompanied by an internet shutdown, tight curfew, and restrictions preventing journalists from reporting freely. Several news platforms in the country have not updated since mid-week due to the blackout.
Hassan, who became president in 2021 following the sudden death of former leader John Magufuli, has faced internal opposition from factions loyal to her predecessor. Analysts say the election was seen as a move to consolidate her authority.
Rights groups accuse her administration of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation in the lead-up to the vote, including alleged abductions of activists and critics.
Much public frustration has also been directed at Hassan’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, who protesters accuse of overseeing aspects of the clampdown.
The Army Chief, Jacob Mkunda, publicly backed the president on Thursday, describing demonstrators as “criminals.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed alarm over the escalating situation.
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations,” his office said in a statement, calling for restraint and protection of human rights.
