African Union congratulates Tanzania's president on election win, 'regrets loss of life'

The African Union chair "deeply regrets the loss of human life" in the election protests in Tanzania, but congratulated President Samia Suluhu Hassan on her victory, it said in a statement Saturday.

The chair of the AU's secretariat, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, "takes note of the results of the presidential election in Tanzania and congratulates H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her victory," it said in a statement on X.

"The Chairperson deeply regrets the loss of human life during the post-electoral protests and extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims," it added.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan condemned protests around the election in which she was declared winner on Saturday with almost 98 percent of the vote, while the opposition said hundreds have been killed by security forces.

The electoral commission said Hassan won 97.66 percent of the vote and turnout was at 87 percent.

"The government strongly condemns the violent incidents. These incidents were not patriotic at all," said Hassan as she accepted a winner's certificate on state television.

UN chief Antonio Guterres was "deeply concerned" about the situation in Tanzania, "including reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations", according to his spokesman.

Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said Friday that his government had "no figures" on any dead.

"Currently, no excessive force has been used," he said in an interview with Al Jazeera. "There's no number until now of any protesters killed."