What happened with Samia Suluhu Hasan?

Tanzan

ian President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the 2025 presidential election by a landslide, securing approximately 97.66% to 98% of the vote. The election on October 29 was marred by fierce clashes, as Hassan's main rivals were barred from running, leading to nationwide protests and unrest. Despite the violence and criticism of the election's fairness, Hassan was officially declared the winner and received her victory certificate in Dodoma. Voter turnout was nearly 87% of registered voters, and Hassan received approximately 31.9 million votes. The Tanzanian public generally holds mixed to negative feelings toward President Samia Suluhu Hassan, commonly known as Suhulu Hassan. Suluhu is often described as reserved and cooperative in her governing style and is sometimes respectfully referred to as "Mama Samia." She advocates for political unity and has made progress in improving Tanzania's international standing, but continues to face political repression and state brutality, which critics denounce. This is attributed to perceived political repression, a lack of genuine campaigning, and her leadership style. Key reasons for dissatisfaction include: Many Tanzanians view her government as cracking down on dissent and the political opposition. Opposition leaders and members have been arrested and imprisoned, while some of her main rivals were barred from the recent elections. This has led to accusations of authoritarianism and election manipulation. As a result, protests and unrest have erupted nationwide, with reports of violent crackdowns and the deaths of demonstrators. Her rise to power following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, left a political vacuum. Critics view her as an unelected figure who inherited power by chance rather than through a mandate from the people. This damages her legitimacy among segments of the population, particularly young people, who see her as part of the old elite and consider her detached from their economic problems. Her conciliatory and diplomatic style, evident in her numerous trips abroad, is perceived by some as appeasement and a distancing from the needs of ordinary Tanzanians struggling with economic hardship, such as shortages of basic foodstuffs like cooking oil. Her warnings about youth unrest seem hollow, as no real solutions followed. The recent elections, which she won with over 97% of the vote, were widely criticized as lacking competition and more of a coronation than a democratic process, leading to widespread protests and discontent. It can be said that the Tanzanians' aversion to or distrust of Suhulu Hasan stems from the perception that she rules through repression, lacks genuine electoral legitimacy, has lost touch with the problems of ordinary citizens, and presides over a political environment with limited democratic freedoms. This led to significant political unrest and protests across the country in 2025. There were, and still are, reports that Suluhu Hasan is armed to Uganda. Some television news programs reported this. Following her re-election, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania continues to reside in the capital, Dodoma. After the announcement of her election results, she addressed the public in Dodoma, condemning the protests and emphasizing the use of all available security measures to safeguard national security. There have been reports of ongoing tensions, including an internet shutdown and police operations, yet she remains in office, consolidating her power after her election victory. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/29/tanzania-elections-whos-standing-and-whats-at-stake https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4d52z505po https://news.sky.com/story/hundreds-feared-dead-in-days-of-protests-after-disputed-tanzanian-elections-13461605 https://www.jamiiforums.com/threads/tanzania-deserves-better-why-samia-suluhus-incompetence-spells-doom-in-2025.2312681/