Public barred as Tanzanian president sworn in
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for a second term amid tight security after an election that was marred by violent protests and rejected by the opposition as lies.
The opening ceremony is held at the military parade area in the capital Dodoma instead of the stadium as in previous years. It is closed to the public but shown on state television.
Samia was declared the winner on Saturday with 98% of the votes. He faced little opposition, with key rival candidates being jailed or blocked from running.
International observers expressed concern about the transparency of the elections and the aftermath of the violence, which reportedly killed hundreds of people.
Authorities tried to downplay the extent of the violence. It has been difficult to obtain information from the country or verify the death toll due to a nationwide internet shutdown since election day.
Wearing a red headscarf and dark glasses, Samia took the oath of office at a ceremony attended by regional leaders and dignitaries, including the presidents of Somalia, Zambia, Mozambique and Burundi. State broadcaster TBC had previously announced that the public would not attend the event.
In her victory speech on Saturday, Samia said the poll was “free and democratic” and described the protesters as “patriots”.
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 “at least 800” deaths by Saturday, while a diplomatic source in Tanzania told the BBC there was credible evidence that at least 500 people had died.
The UN human rights office said earlier there were credible reports of at least 10 deaths in three cities.
In the wake of the unrest, prices for food, fuel and other essential goods have more than doubled or tripled in many regions. Schools and colleges were closed and public transport was stopped.
Chadema, who was banned from running, rejected the results announced by the election commission, saying they “had no basis in reality, because the truth is that there was no real election in Tanzania.” He called for a new election.
Polling stations were largely empty on election day, but election officials later announced that turnout was 87%.
On Sunday, police spokesman David Misime blamed motorcycle operators and foreign nationals for the violent demonstrations and vandalism.
He said there were people “entering the country illegally with the intention of creating chaos.”
Misime called on Tanzanians to report “any foreigner who is unknown or whose activities in Tanzania are unclear” to the authorities.
His remarks came amid reports that several Kenyan citizens were missing in Tanzania. Kenyan activist Hussein Khalid said he had received reports that a Kenyan teacher had been killed in X and others were still missing.
The situation in Tanzania sparked global concern on Sunday, with Pope Leo XIV calling for prayers and saying post-election violence had erupted “with many victims”.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas called on Tanzanian authorities to exercise restraint to protect lives, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” by the situation, “including reports of deaths and injuries.”
The country’s two main opposition leaders did not contest the elections; Tundu Lissu is being detained on charges of treason, which he denies, while Luhaga Mpina from the ACT-Wazalendo party was excluded from the election due to legal technicalities.
16 fringe parties, none of which had historically significant popular support, were allowed to run.
The ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and its predecessor Tanu have dominated the country’s politics and have not lost an election since independence.
Ahead of the election, human rights groups condemned government repression; Amnesty International cited a “wave of terrorism” that included enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures.
The government denied the allegations and officials said the election would be free and fair.
Samia took office as Tanzania’s first female president in 2021, following the death of President John Magufuli.
More about Tanzania from the BBC:
[Getty Images/BBC]
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