President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania has officially begun a new five-year term in office following her inauguration on Monday, after securing a declared 97.66 percent of the vote in the recent general elections. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Chamwino State House in the political capital, Dodoma, presided over by Chief Justice George Masaju. Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi also took the oath of office at the same event.
Hassan, the first woman to serve as Tanzania’s president and representing the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (source), enters her second term amidst heightened domestic tensions and mounting calls for political reform. While the electoral process proceeded under formal constitutional provisions, its conduct has sparked significant public concern, particularly among youth in urban and peri-urban centres.
The days leading up to and following the election were marked by protests across key regions including Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Songwe, and Arusha. Demonstrators — largely young Tanzanians — took to the streets calling for substantial electoral reforms and the immediate release of detained opposition figures. These demonstrations were met with firm responses from state authorities, including curfews, the temporary closure of schools and universities, and a directive for public servants to work from home, all enforced by the police and security agencies.
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) awarded President Hassan her official victory certificate on Saturday, a move that formalised her re-election. In her post-certification address, Hassan appealed for national unity and stability, calling the protests “regrettable” and commending Tanzania’s defence and security organs for what she described as a “restoration of order.”
“We should stand as one to protect Tanzania,” Hassan said in her public address, which also affirmed her confidence in the state’s investigative mechanisms. She asserted that early findings suggested some protest actions may have involved individuals from neighbouring countries, though no countries were named. Link to Xinhua source
The president directed security agencies to ensure that the country resumed normal functioning from Monday, following what was officially described as a “period of disruption” marked by the loss of life and damage to public and private property.
The high margin of victory, while reflective of historical voting patterns under the CCM’s prolonged incumbency, has raised questions among civil society organisations, regional observers, and parts of the international community. Many local analysts point to the urgent need for more inclusive political mechanisms that better engage diverse sectors of society, particularly the youth whose mobilisations continue to play a critical role in shaping political discourse.
Tanzania’s political journey is part of a broader continental conversation on democratic accountability, civic participation, and state legitimacy. While constitutional stability remains a point of strength in the country’s governance profile, the socio-political undercurrents suggest a generational demand for more responsive and representative leadership.
As regional partners and institutions observe developments in Tanzania, a deeper commitment to human dignity, civic freedoms, and pluralistic political engagement remains essential. The complexity of post-election landscapes across Africa underscores the need to go beyond procedural legitimacy and address substantive democratic concerns in ways that resonate with citizens’ lived realities.
President Hassan’s new term begins in a climate where the balancing of authority with responsive governance will likely define her administration’s legacy — both within Tanzania and across the East African region.
