Last Updated 03rd Nov 2025

By Culton Scovia Nakamya

Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in as the President of Tanzania, four days after the general elections that saw her secure a landslide victory with 97.6% of the votes.

This marks Samia’s first election since she assumed the presidency following the death of her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, in 2021. At that time, she was serving as vice president.

Samia initially won public admiration for overturning several repressive laws introduced by Magufuli. However, critics argue that she later became even more authoritarian, silencing dissent through abductions, arrests, and acts of torture targeting her opponents.

The swearing-in ceremony was a televised, invite-only event held at a military base in Dodoma, Tanzania’s capital city. While the public was barred from attending, the ceremony was broadcast live on several television channels for citizens to follow.

Samia is currently the second female head of state in Africa and the first female president in the East African region. Despite her historic win, her election has faced local disputes and international condemnation following the disqualification and imprisonment of key opposition figures. The leading opposition party, CHADEMA, was barred from the race, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, was imprisoned after refusing to sign the election’s code of conduct.

Voting took place on Wednesday, October 29th, but widespread unrest erupted as citizens protested alleged electoral irregularities. Demonstrators took to the streets, setting fires and destroying voting materials in demand of a fair and transparent electoral process.

The elections were also held amid a nationwide internet shutdown, which severely restricted freedom of speech and media operations. As of Monday, November 3rd, the shutdown remains in effect.

The United Nations Human Rights Office has reported at least 10 deaths resulting from the ongoing unrest. However, the Tanzanian government has not yet released an official report on the death toll.

While the African Union congratulated Samia on her victory, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), of which Tanzania is a member, stated that the election did not reflect the true will of the people.

A few regional heads of state—including leaders from Somalia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Burundi—attended her inauguration.

After taking the oath of office, President Samia called for national unity, urging Tanzanians to work together “to make our today better than our yesterday.” As protests persist in various regions, she appealed to citizens to avoid violence, emphasizing that it would only harm the nation’s economy.