Tanzania's 2025 Election: Violence, Allegations of Fraud, and a Contested Victory

Tanzania's presidential election on October 29, 2025, has been marred by widespread violence and allegations of electoral fraud, leading to significant unrest across the country. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with approximately 98% of the vote, a result that has been met with skepticism and condemnation from both local and international observers. Key opposition figures, including Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were barred from participating, which critics argue compromised the election's integrity.

Despite deadly violence, Tanzanian govt says election transparent, peaceful

Following the election, protests erupted in major cities, including Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, as demonstrators expressed outrage over the exclusion of opposition candidates. Reports of violence from various sources indicate a staggering death toll, with the opposition claiming that over 800 people were killed during the unrest. The government has dismissed these figures as exaggerated, asserting that the security forces acted to restore order amid what they described as violent protests. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have condemned the government's response, citing excessive use of force and extrajudicial killings.

CHADEMA declares week of mourning for victims of deadly election violence in Tanzania

In her inauguration speech, President Hassan acknowledged the loss of life but attributed some of the unrest to foreign nationals, stating, “It was not a surprise that those arrested were from other countries.” She emphasized the need for unity and stability, urging security agencies to ensure a return to normalcy. Conversely, the African Union's observer mission concluded that the elections did not comply with democratic standards, citing issues such as ballot stuffing and the suppression of opposition voices.

Reuters

The main opposition party, Chadema, has vehemently rejected the election results, labeling them a "sham" and calling for a new, internationally supervised election. Brenda Rupia, Chadema's director of communications, stated, “As days keep going, we’re establishing and finding out that more people have died in different regions.” Critics argue that the political environment has become increasingly repressive under Hassan's administration, which has seen a significant crackdown on dissent since she took office in 2021.

CNN

There is considerable discrepancy regarding the death toll from the protests. While Chadema claims over 800 fatalities, a diplomatic source indicated credible evidence of at least 500 deaths. The UN human rights office has verified reports of at least 10 deaths in three cities. The Tanzanian government has not released an official death toll, further complicating the situation.

CNN

As Tanzania grapples with the aftermath of the election, calls for electoral and political reforms are growing louder. The African Union and the Southern African Development Community have urged the government to address the underlying issues that led to the violence and to ensure that future elections are conducted fairly. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with concerns that ongoing unrest could destabilize the region.

• “The 2025 Tanzania General Elections did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections,” — African Union Observer Mission

How Tanzania's election fell short of democratic standards

• “I don't know where he is, I don't know whether he has been arrested, I don't know if he is injured, I don't know if he is hospitalised, I don't know if he is dead.” — Mama Kassim, Tanzanian citizen

BBC News

The situation in Tanzania remains fluid, with the potential for further unrest as citizens demand accountability and reform in the wake of a deeply contested electoral process.