KAMPALA, Uganda — Tanzania is experiencing widespread protests as electoral authorities tally votes in a highly contested presidential election. Rights groups, opposition leaders, and observers have criticized the election, citing a climate of fear and suppression in the lead-up to the vote. Since Wednesday’s election, the military has been deployed alongside police to quell riots in major cities, a rare sight in a country known for its peaceful reputation and popular tourist destinations like pristine beaches and safari parks. The unrest stems from President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s bid for a second term, which critics describe as a ‘coronation’ rather than a fair contest. Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president, faced minimal opposition after her two main rivals were barred from running. Her administration has been accused of authoritarian tactics, including silencing dissent through arrests, intimidation, and internet restrictions. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party has been jailed for months on treason charges, while ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina was disqualified from the race. The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has held power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961, is accused of using administrative, legal, and extra-legal means to maintain its dominance. Reports of enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings have further fueled public outrage. Internet access has been intermittently shut down since the election, raising concerns about transparency. Tanzania’s political landscape contrasts sharply with neighboring countries like Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, and Madagascar, where youth-led movements and opposition figures have challenged long-standing regimes. Despite regional trends, Tanzania remains an outlier, with CCM deeply entrenched in the state apparatus. Hassan’s rise to power followed the sudden death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, in 2021, maintaining CCM’s reputation for orderly transitions. However, her administration’s crackdown on dissent has drawn international criticism, with organizations like Amnesty International and the International Crisis Group highlighting the erosion of democratic freedoms. As Tanzania awaits official election results, the nation’s political stability hangs in the balance, with opposition leaders vowing to challenge CCM’s grip on power.
What to know about a disputed election in Tanzania, where single-party rule is being challenged
