Tanzania elections Suluhu leads amid violence protests fraud allegations

Tanzania’s general elections have been plagued by controversy. President Samia Suluhu Hassan took an early lead amid violent protests, a nationwide lockdown and allegations of electoral fraud. Preliminary results from the Independent National Electoral Commission show Suluhu has secured over 90 % of the votes counted so far, but the credibility of the process is under intense scrutiny because of a crackdown on opposition and widespread unrest.

The election was widely seen as a one‑sided affair. The two main opposition candidates—Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA and Luhaga Mpina of ACT‑Wazalendo—were either jailed or disqualified. Sixteen other candidates from smaller parties were cleared to run, but none posed a significant challenge to Suluhu, who is seeking her first full term under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

The government’s suppression of dissent has drawn condemnation from civil‑society groups and international observers. On election day, internet access was cut nationwide and a curfew imposed in major cities, including Dar es Salaam. The national broadcaster announced Suluhu’s early lead, but this did little to calm tensions; protesters took to the streets, accusing the government of orchestrating a sham election.

The unrest has spilled across borders. Demonstrations were reported in Namanga, a town that straddles the Tanzanian‑Kenyan border, and Kenyan police said two people died after clashes with Tanzanian security forces. Within Tanzania, the situation remains volatile: access to Dar es Salaam’s international airport is restricted and several major routes are closed.

Excluding key opposition figures has fueled public anger. Tundu Lissu is currently on trial for treason and faces a potential death sentence. CHADEMA was barred from participating, and its vice‑chairman, John Heche, is reportedly in critical condition while in police custody. The European Union condemned the election as a “fraud unfolding for months,” citing systematic exclusion of opposition voices and erosion of democratic norms. Amnesty International described the situation as a “wave of terror,” warning that the country’s democratic institutions are under threat.

The situation in Tanzania remains uncertain, with the government yet to release official figures on the number of deaths and injuries reported during the protests.