Tanzania Opposition Rejects Suluhu's 98% Win Amid Deadly Unrest

Tanzania's main opposition party, CHADEMA, has outrightly rejected the results of the October 29, 2025, presidential election, calling the process a sham and an "open coup" that denied citizens a fair democratic choice. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, representing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, was declared the winner with approximately 97.66% of the vote, extending her presidency for a second term. CHADEMA accused the government of electoral fraud, intimidation, mass arrests, and a political environment that was neither free nor fair, pointing to the exclusion and imprisonment of key opposition figures and widespread internet shutdowns to suppress dissent. The party claims that more than 700 people were killed in violent clashes following the election, although official and UN sources report significantly lower figures, while the government dismisses opposition death toll claims as exaggerated. Despite CHADEMA's calls for the international community to reject Hassan's presidency and demand fresh elections supervised by an independent body, constitutional provisions in Tanzania prevent any court from challenging the election results once announced by the National Electoral Commission. The post-election unrest has led to curfews, intensified security measures, and ongoing political tension as the opposition refuses to recognize Hassan's legitimacy.