Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan Sworn In for Second Term Amid Disputed Election and Protests

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for her second term following a disputed election where she secured approximately 97-98% of the vote amid the exclusion of major opposition candidates. The election and subsequent inauguration, held at a military or state house venue in Dodoma, were marked by significant political tension and violence, with protests erupting across the country. Opposition parties and some diplomatic sources claim that hundreds of protesters were killed by security forces, although the government dismissed these figures as exaggerated. An internet blackout was imposed during the unrest, complicating independent verification of casualty reports. The government maintains a heavy security presence in key cities, and critics warn that ongoing suppression of dissent may worsen instability in Tanzania. The opposition rejects the election results, calling for new elections and condemning the process as a sham.