Tanzania - October 2025

On 29 October, President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the country’s presidential election with 97.7 per cent of the vote; she was one of three women candidates among the 17 on the ballot. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, voter turnout reached nearly 87.0 per cent, up from the disputed 2020 figure of 50 per cent. The main opposition parties, Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) and ACT-Wazalendo, were excluded from the race earlier this year, leaving Hassan to contest against smaller parties. The election proceeded amid a nationwide internet shutdown and heightened security presence. Regional observers, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), raised concerns over incidents of violence, restrictions on media, the exclusion of key opposition candidates, and limited electoral competitiveness. Tanzanian officials, however, described the vote as peaceful and orderly.

Sources: Independent National Electoral Commission – Tanzania, Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission, Institute for Security Studies – Africa, Africa Confidential, The New York Times, Reuters

Widespread protests broke out across Tanzania following the 29 October general elections, with demonstrators clashing with security forces in cities including Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mbeya. Police reportedly used tear gas and live ammunition, and protesters set fire to polling stations and government buildings. The government imposed a nationwide internet blackout and curfew, restricting access to information. The United Nations confirmed at least ten deaths, while the main opposition party, Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo), claimed over 700 people were killed, and some activists allege the toll could be higher—though these figures remain unverified. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, condemned the excessive use of force and called for independent investigations. The protests, described by country experts as unprecedented in scale, reflect rising public anger over repression and the perceived lack of credible political alternatives.

Sources: Africa Confidential, The Africa Report, The Conversation, Human Rights Watch, British Broadcasting Corporation, International Crisis Group