Samia Suluhu Hassan was on Monday, November 3, sworn in for a second term as Tanzania’s president, extending her rule after an election marred by protests, violence, and a near-total internet blackout.
The ceremony, held in the capital Dodoma, was brief and tightly controlled.
The public was largely locked out of the ceremony majorly constititing of invited dignitaries and senior officials.
Outside, the mood was different: streets were lined with soldiers, and silence hung heavy over cities still reeling from days of clashes.
The National Electoral Commission had declared Samia the winner with nearly 98 per cent of the vote.
It was a landslide – but one that many Tanzanians say was predetermined.
Her top rivals were barred from running; one, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, remains behind bars facing treason charges.
Critics described the process as “a coronation, not an election.”
Western diplomats expressed “grave concern” over reports of intimidation, while rights groups accused the government of orchestrating a crackdown that left dozens dead and hundreds missing.
On election day, smoke curled above the skyline of Dar es Salaam. Protesters burnt tyres.
Rais Samia Suluhu: Maandamano na vurugu husababisha maumivu na havileti manufaa kwa yeyote yule. Tuchague hekima, busara, upendo, uvumilivu, umoja na amani pic.twitter.com/ojsSxBAKGn
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 3, 2025
Police fired live rounds and tear gas. Curfews were imposed, schools shuttered, and social media went dark.
Some official sources say at least 1000 people, mostly youthful protestors, have died in clashes with police.
Just four years ago, Samia was hailed as a bridge-builder – a soft-spoken leader keen to undo the hard-line legacy of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
She released political prisoners, reopened media houses, and restored a sense of cautious hope.
But that promise has faded. In the months leading to the vote, dissenters vanished, rallies were banned, and pastors critical of the government were silenced.
READ ALSO: Zimbabwean Rights Defender Linda Masarira Slams Samia Suluhu in Viral Post
Now, as Samia embarks on her new term, the optimism that once defined her presidency has evaporated.
Foreign allies, including Kenya’s President William Ruto, have urged dialogue and restraint.
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