Tanzania's President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was sworn in for her first elected presidential term on Monday after winning the election with 97.66% of the vote, international agencies reported, News.bg reports.
The ceremony was held at a military base in Dodoma, where 65-year-old Hassan, dressed in a red scarf and dark glasses, took her oath in front of thousands of attendees and with military honors, reports “Reuters“.
Hassan has held the position since 2021, when he succeeded the late President John Magufuli, who died after a short illness, officially from heart failure, but according to a number of sources - from complications related to COVID-19. Magufuli was known for denying the pandemic and refusing to implement anti-epidemic measures.
Election process and protests
Hassan's victory secured her first full five-year term, but the election was marred by violence and allegations of fraud. During the vote, the main candidates of the two largest opposition parties were disqualified, sparking mass protests. Witnesses reported government buildings being set on fire and police responding with tear gas and gunfire.
The opposition claims hundreds of people have died, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed "credible reports" of **at least 10 deaths in three cities. The government in Dodoma dismissed the figures as "grossly exaggerated".
The first female president and future goals
Samiya Suluhu Hassan is the first female president in Tanzania's history. She is seen as a moderate leader who is trying to balance Magufuli's hardline legacy with international pressure for more democratic reforms. In her speech after her swearing-in, she said she would work for unity and stability, putting the interests of the people above political differences.