Samia Suluhu's 98% Election Win in Tanzania Sparks Opposition Rejection and International Controversy - November 2025

After her victory in the 2025 General Election, Tanzania’s President-elect Samia Suluhu Hassan called for national unity. However, Chadema, Tanzania's main opposition party, rejected her 98% win as "illegitimate," citing a deadly crackdown on protests, mass arrests, and widespread intimidation. The party is demanding a fresh election overseen by an independent body. The African Union (AU) Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, faced widespread criticism for congratulating Suluhu while simultaneously regretting lives lost in post-election violence. Leaders from the African Union Commission (AUC) and East African Community (EAC), as well as from Burundi and Somalia, also congratulated Suluhu on her re-election, with the AUC urging respect for human rights.