Published on 01/11/2025
President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured re-election in Tanzania with 97.66% of the votes, or 31,913,866 ballots, in the October 29, 2025, presidential election, as announced by the Tanzanian National Electoral Commission on November 1.
The commission also revealed that her closest challenger, Chaumu, got 213,414 votes, representing 0.65 per cent of the votes cast. In total, the registered voters were 37 million.
The victory followed opposition boycotts by Chadema and disqualifications of challengers like Tundu Lissu and Dorothy Semu, amid allegations of fraud.
Deadly protests in cities including Dar es Salaam have resulted in dozens confirmed dead and hundreds injured from security responses, drawing UN condemnation and calls for restraint, while South Africa’s ANC reported limited observation access.
Post-Election Violence
The release of the results came despite widespread protests in several places across Tanzania, with protesters accusing the government of undermining democracy.
The main opposition candidate Tundu Lissu, spent the entire period before and during the elections in jail, with another key opposition figure disqualified from the polls.
Since Wednesday, protesters engaged police in running battles, with officers resorting to firing tear gas in a bid to disperse them.
Gunfire was heard in the northern city of Mwanza, while clashes broke out in the capital, Dodoma, and the main city, Dar es Salaam, which is under heavy security with major roads blocked.
In response to the protests, the Tanzanian government announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Dar es Salaam, with city Regional Commissioner Alfred Chalamila warning that authorities would not take lightly any attempts to disrupt the election process.
Despite warnings, some polling stations were subjected to vandalism as irate youth tore down ballot boxes to express their dissatisfaction with the way the election was handled.
An internet and communications blackout was also apparently imposed since election day, further prompting fears of state-sponsored censorship and violations of the freedom of the press.
Suluhu contested on the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and was seeking her first direct election, having risen to the presidency following the death of former president John Magufuli in 2021.
