DODOMA – In a closely monitored ceremony on Monday, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially assumed office amid tight restrictions, with attendance limited to only invited guests. This followed a contentious election that ignited violent protests after the exclusion of two prominent opposition candidates from the race.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on government premises in Dodoma, Tanzania’s administrative hub. This marked a significant departure from tradition, as past inaugurations were typically held in large football stadiums filled with the general public.
Tensions remained palpable in Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial center, where streets were eerily quiet following three days of unrest. Many businesses, including gas stations and grocery stores, were shuttered, and government employees continued to work remotely. Similarly, in Dodoma, residents largely remained indoors.
The October 29 election was overshadowed by violence, with demonstrators flooding major city streets in protest, aiming to halt the vote count. In response, the military was called in to assist police in dispersing the riots. The country’s internet services have been intermittently disrupted, affecting travel and everyday activities.
The unrest spread nationwide, prompting the government to delay the reopening of universities, initially scheduled for November 3.
While the Tanzanian government has not disclosed the number of casualties resulting from the violence, Seif Magango, a spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, reported credible accounts of 10 fatalities in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro during a U.N. briefing in Geneva via video link from Kenya last Friday.
The election results were rejected by the main opposition party, Chadema.
“These results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania,” the party’s statement read in part.
Chadema party leader Tundu Lissu has been imprisoned for several months after being charged with treason for calling for electoral reforms that he said were necessary for a free and fair vote. Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo Party, was barred from running.
The presidents of Mozambique, Zambia, Burundi, and Somalia attended the swearing-in on Monday.
Kenya’s President William Ruto issued a statement on Monday urging Tanzanians to maintain peace and calling for dialogue among stakeholders to maintain national stability. Ruto did not travel to Dodoma on Monday and was represented by his vice president.
The election violence in Tanzania led to a closure of the border crossing with Kenya at Namanga, where agricultural goods in trucks have been rotting for six days.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
