DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania: Tanzania’s incumbent President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, was sworn in for a second term on Monday, despite the ongoing state of emergency in the country, reported German news agency, dpa.
She called on the security authorities of the East African country to “restore normality” and warned would-be troublemakers to not engage.
Hassan was re-elected with 97.66 per cent of the vote, according to official results released on Saturday.
The curfew imposed in the country after riots on election day remains in place for the fifth day in a row. Schools and shops remained closed.
According to the organisation, Netblocks, the internet, which had been repeatedly shut down since election day, remained severely disrupted for social media and messenger services.
On election day, violent protests broke out against the exclusion of the main opposition candidates. Security forces are also said to have used live ammunition against the demonstrators.
The number of deaths is unclear, but the UN Human Rights Office said credible reports indicate that at least 10 demonstrators were killed. The opposition has spoken of hundreds of deaths.
Hassan expressed her sorrow at the loss of life and destruction of property, blaming foreign nationals, among others, for the violence.
At the same time, she warned that the security forces would take decisive action against troublemakers.
“We must ensure that something like this never happens again,” she said.
Politically, Tanzania is considered one of the more stable countries in the East African region.
After taking office in 2021, Hassan had promised to open up the country but failed to deliver on her promise.
Her party, the Revolutionary Party or CCM, has ruled the country of about 70 million people since its independence more than 60 years ago.
According to human rights activists, politically motivated arrests continue to take place. – BERNAMA-dpa
