Tanzania’s newly re-elected President Samia Suluhu Hassan began her second term on Monday with a muted swearing-in ceremony that mirrored a nation still reeling from election-related turmoil. The event, held behind closed doors in Dodoma, was drastically scaled back from the traditional fanfare in public stadiums, stressing the tensions that have gripped the country since the Oct. 29 vote.
As she took the oath of office, Hassan acknowledged the unrest that has rocked Tanzania, referencing the “loss of lives” during the clashes. She attributed much of the violence to outside interference, remarking that “it was not a surprise that those arrested were from other countries.” She pledged to “unite the country” and directed security forces to restore order in a nation on edge.
The subdued atmosphere in the streets of Dar es Salaam reflected the unease. For days, protests have emptied the city’s busy markets and shut gas stations and grocery stores. Public offices remain quiet, with many government workers still logging in from home. Similar scenes unfolded in Dodoma, where residents chose to stay indoors.
The series of demonstrations occurred after opposition candidates were blocked from running and crowds attempted to disrupt ballot counting. Police, backed by the military, were dispatched to quell unrest in key cities. Internet access has faltered repeatedly, stalling travel and cutting off vital tools for communication.
As protests expanded countrywide, the government delayed the reopening of universities initially planned for Nov. 3. Yet authorities have not disclosed official figures on casualties, leaving the public searching for answers. The United Nations’ human rights office reported “credible” accounts of 10 deaths in cities including Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro, according to a U.N. briefing by spokesman Seif Magango.
Local leaders paint an even grimmer picture. “Hundreds” may have died in unrest across communities, according to Charles Kitima, Secretary General of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference. Despite the absence of an official toll, Kitima called for justice on behalf of families affected.
“The president has been sworn in and we hope justice will be served to those who lost their loved ones and that protesters are not targeted,” he said. The youth, he warned, are especially disillusioned—an urgent reminder for leaders to engage the country’s younger generation.
The election fallout continued to stir outrage among opposition factions. The main opposition party, Chadema, rejected the results outright, stating, “These results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania.”
Key opposition figures remain sidelined. Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, has been jailed on treason charges after calls for electoral reform. Another prominent opponent, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo Party, was forbidden from contesting.
Monday’s ceremony reportedly brought together several African heads of state, including leaders from Mozambique, Zambia, Burundi, and Somalia, each calling for calm.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema appealed directly to Tanzanians, reminding them that “no country has ever recovered from the ‘menace’ of violence.” Kenya’s President William Ruto echoed similar sentiments, issuing a plea for dialogue in a statement, though he did not attend the event personally.
Meanwhile, the unrest has spilled into regional trade. A key border crossing at Namanga remains sealed, cutting off agricultural shipments and leaving truckloads of produce to rot in the sun.
As Hassan settles into her new term, the clash over legitimacy and justice shows no sign of quieting, raising urgent questions about the future of democracy in Tanzania.
