Public barred as Tanzanian president sworn in
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for a second term amid tight security, following an election marred by violent protests and dismissed by the opposition as a sham.
The inauguration ceremony is taking place on a military parade ground in the capital, Dodoma, instead of a stadium like in previous years. It is closed to the public but is broadcast on national television.
Samia was declared the winner on Saturday with 98% of the votes. She faced little opposition, with main rival candidates either imprisoned or prevented from running.
International observers have expressed concerns about the transparency of the elections and their violent aftermath, which reportedly left hundreds of people killed.
Authorities sought to downplay the scale of the violence. It has been difficult to obtain information about the country or verify the death toll, amid a nationwide internet shutdown since election day.
Wearing a red headscarf and black glasses, Samia took the oath of office in a ceremony attended by regional leaders and dignitaries, including the presidents of Somalia, Zambia, Mozambique and Burundi. Public broadcaster TBC said earlier that the public would not attend the event.
In his victory speech on Saturday, Samia said the vote was “free and democratic” and called the protesters “unpatriotic.”
Opposition leaders and activists say hundreds of people have been killed in clashes with security forces. The opposition Chadema party told the AFP news agency it had recorded “no less than 800” deaths on Saturday, while a diplomatic source in Tanzania told the BBC there was credible evidence that at least 500 people had died.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights earlier said there were credible reports of at least 10 deaths in three cities.
Following the unrest, the prices of food, fuel and other basic necessities have more than doubled or even tripled in many areas. Schools and colleges are closed and public transport is interrupted.
Chadema – who was unable to compete – rejects the results announced by the electoral commission, saying they have “no basis in reality because the truth is that no real election took place in Tanzania”. He called new elections.
On election day, polling stations remained largely empty, but election officials later said turnout was 87 percent.
On Sunday, police spokesman David Misime blamed motorcycle drivers and foreign nationals for the violent protests and vandalism.
He said some individuals had “entered the country illegally with the intention of sowing chaos.”
Misime urged Tanzanians to report to authorities “any foreigners who are unknown or whose activities in Tanzania are unclear.”
His remarks come as several Kenyan nationals have disappeared in Tanzania. Kenyan activist Hussein Khalid said on X that he had received reports of the death of a Kenyan teacher and others still missing.
The situation in Tanzania has sparked worldwide concern, with Pope Leo XIV calling for prayer on Sunday, saying post-election violence had broken out “with many victims”.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas urged Tanzanian authorities to exercise restraint to preserve lives, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” about the situation “including reports of deaths and injuries”.
The country’s two main opposition leaders did not participate in the elections: Tundu Lissu is detained on treason charges, which he denies, while Luhaga Mpina, of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was excluded on legal grounds.
Sixteen fringe parties, none of which have historically enjoyed significant public support, were allowed to run.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and its predecessor Tanu have dominated the country’s politics and have never lost an election since independence.
Ahead of the election, rights groups condemned government repression, with Amnesty International citing a “wave of terror” involving forced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures.
The government rejected the claims and officials said the elections would be free and fair.
Samia took office in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female president following the death of President John Magufuli.
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