(MENAFN) Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has secured a commanding victory in the country’s general election, capturing over 97% of the vote, the Tanzania Electoral Commission announced on Saturday.

The win gives Hassan her first full five-year term as an elected president. She initially assumed office in March 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli, completing the remainder of his term.

Official results showed voter turnout near 87% of the nation’s 37.6 million registered voters, with Hassan receiving more than 31.9 million ballots – 97.66% of the total.

The election, held Wednesday, sparked widespread unrest across Tanzania. According to local media, protests erupted in multiple regions, with demonstrators tearing down campaign posters featuring Hassan and setting government buildings on fire. Police reportedly used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds.

The US Embassy reported major road closures, including access to the international airport. Tanzania’s police chief, Camelius Wambura, announced a curfew starting at 6 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT). Internet access across the country was also severely disrupted.

The demonstrations followed the disqualification of two prominent opposition candidates. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party, who has been detained for months on treason charges, called for electoral reform, arguing that “credible elections cannot be held without structural changes.” Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was also barred from the race.

In a statement released late Saturday, Chadema said it “strongly rejects the so-called election results” that awarded victory to Hassan.

Tanzanian authorities have not released official casualty figures from the post-election violence. Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, reported on Friday that credible sources indicated at least ten fatalities in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro.

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