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Tanzania's President Sworn In Amid Political Crisis

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 17:17 GMT by Foreign Policy
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Election backdrop

President Samia Suluhu, who took office in 2021 following the death of John Kondabala, has run on a platform that emphasizes economic development, poverty reduction and a gradual transition toward a more democratic electoral system. Her administration has claimed to have improved infrastructure and introduced reforms to attract foreign investment. Opponents, led by the opposition coalition Chadema, argue that the ruling party’s control over state media and the electoral commission has entrenched a system that favors incumbents. In the lead‑up to the vote, a joint report by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Commonwealth Observer Mission highlighted technical improvements but also noted concerns about the impartiality of local election officials.

Result announcement and immediate fallout

The official results were announced on 26 October at a press conference at the University of Dar Es Salaam. President Hassan, standing beside her Vice‑President Mikiko, declared victory, thanking her supporters and pledging to continue her policy agenda. The Vice‑President of the country, however, publicly welcomed the outcome and urged citizens to respect the law.

Within hours, protestors flooded the streets of Dar Es Salaam’s Freedom Square, chanting “Justice!” and “Free the People.” The protest quickly escalated, with demonstrators occupying the main highway that connects the city to the airport. A similar wave of dissent unfolded in Mwanza, where a march through the town’s main square was met by police in riot gear. In total, local authorities reported 7 deaths and 53 injuries across the three major cities, according to the Tanzania Ministry of Health, which also stated that many casualties were victims of gunfire from police snipers positioned on rooftops.

Chadema’s response

Chadema’s leader, John Kalonji, denied that the official results reflected the will of the people. He called for an immediate, independent audit of the vote counts and threatened to launch a legal challenge in the High Court. Kalonji also urged the international community to monitor the post‑election environment. The party’s central committee released a statement accusing the ruling party of “systematic voter intimidation” and “manipulation of the voting machinery.” They also highlighted evidence presented by citizen‑reporting apps, which documented irregularities in polling stations in rural regions such as Kagera and Zanzibar.

International reaction

The United Nations Mission in Tanzania (UNMT) released a brief statement calling for calm and expressing concern over the rising tensions. The African Union’s election monitoring team, which had observed the polls, praised the IEC’s efforts to modernize the process but called for “greater transparency” in the recount process. In the United Kingdom, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office issued a statement urging both sides to respect democratic principles and to engage in a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department’s Africa Office cautioned that a sustained crackdown could undermine Tanzania’s reputation as a stable partner in the region.

Allegations of fraud and the role of state media

A key point of contention has been the role of state‑run media, which, according to independent journalists, largely broadcast President Hassan’s campaign rallies and praised her government’s achievements. A study by the Tanzania Institute for Media Studies, published in September, found that the state media outspent the opposition by a ratio of 4:1. In addition, an investigative piece in the local newspaper The Citizen revealed that several polling stations in the western province of Kagera recorded a sudden surge in votes for Hassan within minutes of the polls closing, a phenomenon that the IEC has yet to explain.

The road ahead

The political crisis has placed Tanzania in a precarious position. The government’s insistence on the validity of the results contrasts sharply with Chadema’s demand for a recount, while the ongoing protests suggest that a significant segment of the population remains skeptical of the electoral process. Local civil society groups have called for a dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition, while urging the international community to provide technical assistance for a transparent audit.

If the government proceeds with a full recount, the opposition may still challenge the results in court. However, the current trajectory points toward a potentially prolonged stalemate. The international community will likely continue to monitor the situation closely, given Tanzania’s strategic position in East Africa, its role in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and its potential as a conduit for trade and investment.

In sum, the 2025 presidential election in Tanzania has underscored the fragile balance between governance and opposition in a country that has historically enjoyed relative political stability. The death toll in the protests, the accusations of fraud, and the demand for an independent audit all signal a critical juncture. Whether Tanzania will navigate this crisis without escalating into widespread violence or will become another example of a democracy caught between authoritarian consolidation and a vibrant, albeit fraught, opposition will shape the region’s political future for years to come.