Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is set to be inaugurated on Monday with the internet still blocked after election protests.

The electoral commission declared her the winner of Thursday’s election with 97.66% of the vote, securing more than 31.9 million of the 32.7 million ballots cast. The result extends her presidency for a second term.

According to the electoral commission, voter turnout was nearly 87%.

But the main opposition party, Chadema, which was barred after missing the deadline to sign the electoral code of conduct, has rejected the results and called for fresh elections.

The opposition claims around 700 people have been killed in three days of election protests, with protesters still on the streets in the midst of an internet blackout.

The authorities have not responded to the claims and foreign journalists were largely banned from covering the election, making it difficult to verify the details.

State television announced that the public would not attend the inauguration, which would be held at the State House in the capital, Dodoma, rather than at a stadium as usual.

A total internet blackout has been in place since protests broke out on election day, so only a trickle of verifiable information has been getting out of the east African country.

Election day protests

Chadema told AFP it had recorded "no less than 800" deaths by Saturday, but none of the figures could be independently verified.

The government has not commented on any deaths, except to reject accusations that "excessive force" was used.

Schools and colleges remained closed on Monday, with public transport halted.

Dar es Salaam and other cities were much calmer over the weekend as a near-total lockdown was in place.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for prayers for Tanzania, where he said post-election violence had erupted "with numerous victims".

"I urge everyone to avoid all forms of violence and to pursue the path of dialogue," the pope said.

‘Civil campaigns’

Hassan said her landslide win reflected the people’s mandate for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party to deliver on its promises, according to local media.

Congratulating her rivals for “conducting campaigns with civility,” she urged Tanzanians to unite and praised the electoral commission for what she called a “free, open, and fair” vote, The Citizen daily reported.

The UN Human Rights Office said at least 10 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters after the results were announced, while Chadema claimed the toll was far higher.

This was Tanzania’s first full national poll under Hassan, 65, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli.

She has pledged unity and economic stability in her second term, but the scale of her victory and the reported crackdown on dissent have drawn criticism from domestic and international observers who warn of shrinking democratic space in the East African nation.

The African Union and East African Community have called for calm and respect for human rights, urging authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in handling post-election unrest.