President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been re-elected as Tanzania’s leader in a contentious election marred by violent protests, mass arrests, and allegations of electoral fraud. The National Electoral Commission announced that Samia secured a staggering 98% of the vote in Wednesday’s poll, a result swiftly dismissed by opposition groups as neither credible nor reflective of the people’s will.  

In her victory speech on Saturday, President Samia defended the election as "free and democratic," while condemning protesters as "unpatriotic" agitators seeking to destabilize the nation. However, opposition leaders and international observers have raised serious concerns over the fairness of the vote, citing the imprisonment and disqualification of key challengers, voter intimidation, and a lack of transparency in the counting process.  

The aftermath of the election has been marked by widespread unrest, with reports of hundreds killed and injured in clashes between security forces and demonstrators. A government-imposed internet blackout has severely hampered efforts to independently verify casualty figures, leaving human rights groups and foreign diplomats reliant on fragmented accounts from local sources.  

Authorities have downplayed the extent of the violence, but the imposition of an extended curfew suggests a deepening crisis. Opposition parties have vowed to challenge the results, accusing the ruling party of orchestrating a sham election to cement its grip on power.  

As Tanzania grapples with the fallout, the international community watches closely, with growing calls for an independent investigation into the alleged human rights abuses and electoral irregularities that have cast a shadow over President Samia’s second term.