Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was inaugurated on Monday, downplaying days of bloody protests despite warnings of hundreds killed. The electoral commission said Hassan won 98 percent of the vote, while the main opposition party, Chadema, rejected the results as a “sham.”
Hassan called for “unity and solidarity” in her speech but alleged that some protesters came from “outside Tanzania,” raising tensions further. Addressing officials and foreign dignitaries in Dodoma, she promised a return to normality while security agencies investigate the violence in detail.
The ceremony was held privately at State House instead of a stadium, reflecting the heightened security and ongoing unrest. A partial internet return on Monday ended a near-total blackout that had restricted information flow since election day last Wednesday.
Schools and colleges remained closed, public transport halted, and some church services were reportedly suspended amid heavy security and city lockdowns. Reports suggest police used the blackout to locate opposition members and protesters, particularly those with videos of last week’s alleged atrocities.
AFP journalists described soaring food prices, strict ID checks, and shops opening only in the afternoon in cities under near-total lockdown. Masked armed men patrolled Zanzibar, which saw few protests, while footage from Kenya purportedly showed dead bodies in Tanzanian streets.
Pope Leo XIV urged prayers and dialogue for Tanzania, condemning post-election violence that has left “numerous victims,” the Vatican said on Sunday. Hassan, vice-president until 2021, sought an emphatic victory to consolidate power after succeeding John Magufuli following his sudden death. Rights groups reported a “wave of terror,” including abductions and intimidation, while election day erupted in chaos despite heavy police presence.