06/11 • TANZANIA

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the election winner with 97.66% of the vote. While she has been praised for economic reforms and international diplomacy, this landslide result comes after opposition candidates were barred from running, raising serious concerns about the democratic process.

The leading opposition party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), boycotted the vote entirely, citing lack of transparency and intimidation. In the days since, protests have erupted in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and other cities. The UN Human Rights Office has confirmed at least 10 civilian deaths, calling for an impartial investigation. CCM and other opposition groups claim the true toll is much higher.

This moment is deeply significant. It represents a turning point for one of Africa’s most stable and peaceful democracies. Tanzania has historically been a beacon of post-colonial unity and nonviolent transition. But recent years have seen a shrinking civic space, tighter controls on media and speech, and increased use of digital surveillance and internet blackouts, including this past week’s nationwide outage.

Many young Tanzanians had hoped this election might renew democratic accountability. Instead, they now face curfews, arrests, and violence for speaking out. A generation that grew up believing in dialogue is encountering the hard weight of suppression.