Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Monday for her first elected term after securing a landslide victory in a disputed election that triggered protests across the country.
Hassan, who first assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, was declared the winner of last week’s poll with 97.66% of the vote.
Wearing a red headscarf and dark glasses, the 65-year-old leader took the oath of office at a ceremony held at a military base in the administrative capital, Dodoma.
Her overwhelming victory came amid controversy, as her main challengers from Tanzania’s two largest opposition parties were disqualified from contesting, leaving only candidates from smaller parties on the ballot.
Witnesses reported violent protests during last Wednesday’s voting, with demonstrators setting government buildings ablaze while police responded with tear gas and gunfire to disperse crowds.
Observers say the unrest underscores growing concerns over political freedom and democratic space in the East African nation as President Hassan begins her new five-year term.
