Politics Tanzania's incumbent president wins controversial election
Tanzania's incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of the presidential election and can therefore continue to rule the East African country. The electoral commission announced on state television on Saturday that the 65-year-old had received 97.66 percent of the vote. The results of the parliamentary elections, which took place at the same time on Wednesday, are still pending.
01.11.2025, 12:23
SDA
The election was overshadowed by violent protests in the country, which had long been regarded as an island of stability in East Africa. The protests were directed against the exclusion of the two main opposition candidates from the election. The number of deaths is still unclear.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, credible reports indicate that at least ten demonstrators were killed when security forces used firearms and tear gas to disperse them. The opposition reports hundreds of deaths.
The president, who has been in power since 2021, vowed a political opening after taking office, but has not kept her promise. According to human rights organizations, politically motivated arrests continue to take place in Tanzania.
Country with more than 120 ethnic groups
Observers assume that Hassan's CCM party will retain its parliamentary majority. The CCM has ruled the country of around 70 million people since its independence more than 60 years ago.
Politically, Tanzania is considered one of the more stable countries in the East African region and is less affected by conflict than neighboring countries. More than 120 different ethnic groups live in an area around two and a half times the size of Germany. The economy has developed robustly in recent years. Nevertheless, there is a large gap between rich and poor. The most important sources of income include gold, sisal, coffee, nuts, tobacco and cotton. Tourism also plays a major role.
