Summary: Tanzania's incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of the 2025 presidential election with nearly 98% of the vote according to the official electoral commission. The announcement has triggered nationwide demonstrations, a government-imposed curfew and internet disruptions, while opposition parties and civil society groups report mass casualties and call for independent investigations.
Official result and immediate response
The National Electoral Commission announced that President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured approximately 97.7–98% of valid votes and will serve a new five-year term. The commission's figures put total turnout at a level that analysts and opposition figures have questioned given the exclusion of major opposition challengers. Protests began immediately in major cities including Dar es Salaam and Arusha.
Opposition claims and reported casualties
The main opposition party, CHADEMA, and other critics say key opposition candidates were barred from contesting and that the electoral process was neither free nor fair. Opposition leaders claim the security response to protests has been deadly—CHADEMA has said hundreds of people were killed in post-election unrest, while other sources and the U.N. have reported a smaller confirmed death toll and urged an impartial probe. Independent verification of the full death toll remains challenging amid restrictions on media and communications.
Human rights, internet disruptions and restrictions
Multiple reports indicate that the government imposed curfews and restricted internet and social media access during and after the election, hampering independent reporting and citizen documentation of the unrest. Human rights groups and some international observers have raised alarms about the use of excessive force by security forces. Calls for an independent investigation into alleged abuses are growing louder from regional and international actors.
Domestic and international reactions
Domestically, statements from ruling party figures defended the election outcome and framed the measures as necessary to restore order. Opposition parties rejected the result as illegitimate and demanded international scrutiny. Internationally, news outlets and some governments have expressed concern and urged independent verification of the reports of fatalities and rights violations; major media outlets have also described the event as one of the most serious political crises in Tanzania since independence.
Background: why the vote was contested
In the months leading up to the vote several opposition leaders and parties were barred, arrested or faced legal action. Observers noted increased restrictions on the political space compared with earlier in Samia Suluhu Hassan's presidency, when she was seen by some as a cautious reformer. The exclusion of rival candidates effectively left the ruling CCM party with minimal competition.
What to watch next
- Whether independent investigations (national or international) are permitted and what their findings will be.
- International diplomatic and donor responses—possible statements, sanctions or conditionality from regional actors, the African Union and major partners.
- The accuracy and verification of reported casualties—NGOs and UN bodies may provide updated figures.
- Further restrictions on communications or extended curfews, which could affect humanitarian access and independent reporting.
Verified sources and further reading
Key reporting used in this article: Reuters (election results and official statements), Al Jazeera (reports on protests and internet restrictions), Financial Times (analysis and casualty claims), The Guardian and other outlets tracking the developing death toll and human rights concerns. For primary updates see official statements from Tanzania's National Electoral Commission and the U.N. Office for the High Commissioner on Human Rights.