Tanzania’s electoral commission announced Saturday that President Samia Suluhu Hassan won with almost 98% of the vote in an election that sparked violent protests across the country this week.
The result gave Hassan, who took power in 2021 following the death of his predecessor, a five-year term to rule the East African country of 68 million people.
Protests erupted during presidential and parliamentary votes on Wednesday, with some demonstrators tearing down Mr. Hassan’s banners and setting fire to government buildings, and police firing tear gas and gunfire, witnesses said.
Demonstrators are angry at the electoral commission’s removal of Mr. Hassan’s two biggest challengers from the race and what they describe as a widespread crackdown.
Tanzania’s main opposition party said on Friday that hundreds of people had been killed in the protests, and the United Nations human rights office said it had reliable reports that at least 10 people had been killed in three cities.
The government has dismissed the rebel death toll as “grossly exaggerated” and rejected criticism of the country’s human rights record.
Reuters could not independently confirm the number of casualties.
According to the Election Commission, Hassan received more than 31.9 million votes, or 97.66% of the total votes cast, with a turnout of nearly 87% of the country’s 37.6 million registered voters.
Witnesses said turnout appeared to be low on election day, with some polling stations disrupted by protests.
Tanzanian authorities have imposed a nationwide curfew and restricted internet access for the past three days.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Savit Kombo on Friday denied allegations that security services had used excessive force, saying there had only been “a very small number of minor incidents” caused by criminal elements.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a “thorough and impartial investigation into all allegations of excessive use of force” in a statement released by his spokesperson on Friday, deploring the loss of life.
Mr Hassan, 65, has won praise for easing a crackdown that escalated during his tenure since taking office from his predecessor John Magufuli in 2021, but has faced criticism from opposition parties and activists over recent arrests and suspected abductions of opponents.
She denied allegations of widespread rights violations. Last year, she said she had ordered an investigation into the abduction report, but no formal findings have been released.
During her campaign, she touted the achievements of expanding road and rail networks and increasing power generation capacity.
The main opposition party, Chadema, called for protests during the election, claiming it amounted to a “coronation.”
CHADEMA was disqualified from elections in April after refusing to sign a code of conduct, and its leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason.
The commission also disqualified a candidate from the opposition ACT Wazalendo, leaving only smaller parties to run against Hassan.
