Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has taken oath for her first elected term in office in a ceremony held under heavy security and without public attendance, following a fiercely disputed election marred by deadly protests and claims of massive fraud.
The swearing-in took place at a military parade ground in Dodoma, with access tightly controlled and the event aired on state television instead of being held in a public stadium, as has been tradition.
Regional leaders attended the ceremony, with Uganda represented by Vice President Jessica Alupo.
Suluhu was declared winner with 98% of the vote, but her landslide victory has been clouded by the exclusion and detention of top opposition figures, sparking concerns from observers at home and abroad about the credibility of the election.
The vote triggered widespread unrest, with reports indicating hundreds may have been killed as security forces cracked down on protests.
However, the true scale of the violence remains unclear due to a nationwide internet shutdown that began on Election Day, making independent verification difficult.
Authorities have played down the reports of casualties, but rights groups and opposition voices insist the situation is far worse than officials acknowledge.