Tanzania is on edge after the country’s electoral commission declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner by 98 percent in the October 29, 2025, presidential election. The announcement has triggered a fresh wave of protests that have gripped several parts of the country for four consecutive days, with the opposition calling the vote a dark day for democracy.
The election has been described as highly controversial, following the barring of the main opposition party and its leader, Tundu Lissu, from taking part in the presidential race. Lissu, who had been seen as President Hassan’s strongest challenger, has been in prison facing charges of treason, a case opposition groups say is politically motivated.
As the results were announced, angry youth poured onto the streets of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mbeya, and Mwanza, chanting pro-democracy slogans and calling for the president to step down. Demonstrations have continued despite heavy rains and an increased military presence.
According to the opposition, at least 700 people have been killed and hundreds more injured in what they describe as a brutal government crackdown on peaceful protesters. Human rights organisations have raised concerns over reports of extrajudicial killings by the government of Suluhu Hassan, mass arrests, and internet shutdowns aimed at silencing dissent.
“This is not an election, it is a takeover,” said one opposition spokesperson in a statement shared on social media before the platform was restricted. “The people of Tanzania have spoken loudly, and the government has responded with bullets.”
Under Tanzania’s constitution, once the National Electoral Commission declares results, they cannot be challenged in any court of law. This clause has left opposition parties and civil society groups with limited legal options to contest what they describe as a fraudulent election.
President Suluhu Hassan, who came to power in 2021 after the death of former President John Magufuli, is now set to extend her rule in a country where political freedoms continue to shrink. Critics accuse her administration of using state machinery to stifle dissent, muzzle the press, and intimidate opposition supporters.
International observers have expressed concern about the credibility of the vote. Several foreign missions in Dar es Salaam have called for calm and urged Tanzanian authorities to uphold human rights and restore peace.
As tension mounts, Tanzania finds itself at a crossroads, with growing calls for dialogue and reform but a government seemingly unwilling to yield to pressure.
Whether the protests fade or grow into a wider movement for political change remains to be seen. For now, Tanzanians continue to march, condemning President Suluhu Hassan, demanding justice, freedom, and a future where their votes truly count.
Africa Global News publication.