Tanzania’s Hassan Sworn In After Deadly Election Violence

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Monday for her first elected term, following a landslide victory in a vote marred by deadly unrest across the country.

Hassan, who first assumed office in 2021 after the death of her predecessor, was declared the winner of last week’s election with 97.66% of the vote.

Wearing a red headscarf and dark sunglasses, the 65-year-old leader took the oath of office at a military base in the administrative capital, Dodoma.

She faced only minor challengers from smaller parties, as the two main opposition parties had their key candidates disqualified ahead of the polls.

Witnesses said violent protests erupted during voting on Wednesday, with demonstrators setting government buildings on fire while police responded with tear gas and live ammunition. The main opposition party claimed that hundreds of people were killed, while the U.N. human rights office said credible reports indicated at least 10 deaths across three cities.

The government dismissed the opposition’s death toll as “grossly exaggerated.” Reuters was unable to independently verify the number of casualties.