Nairobi, November 3- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been sworn in for a second term in a low-key ceremony held at a military base in Dodoma, breaking the country’s long-standing tradition of public inaugurations.
The swearing-in took place at the Tanzania People’s Defence Force parade grounds under tight security and was attended only by senior government and military officials. The event was broadcast live on state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) but was closed to independent journalists and foreign guests.
The move comes amid deep political tensions following a disputed election marred by violence, which opposition parties and international observers have condemned as deeply flawed. Suluhu secured a landslide victory with about 97 percent of the vote, a result the opposition dismissed as rigged.
Protests erupted across major cities following the announcement, leading to clashes between demonstrators and security forces that left several people dead and many others injured. Human rights groups have accused the government of stifling dissent through arrests and media restrictions, while internet access was briefly disrupted in parts of the country.
In her inauguration speech, President Suluhu called for unity and peace, pledging to focus on economic recovery and national cohesion. However, critics say the ceremony’s secrecy and the exclusion of independent observers reflect growing authoritarianism in the country’s political landscape.
