UN warns Tanzania as Samia Suluhu wins presidential elections amid protests

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Incumbent Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu has won the presidential elections with 98% of the votes.

How many votes did Suluhu garner?

Tanzania’s electoral commission declared Suluhu the winner of the Wednesday, October 29, elections, after she garnered 31.9 million votes, or 97.66% of the total vote cast.

The commission reported that the voter turnout neared 87% of the country’s 37.6 million registered voters.

The announcement came amid a wave of protests that broke across the East African country on the day of elections, leaving hundreds of people injured and dead.

According to the BBC, international observers raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the electoral process, which spread to Zanzibar.

The protests that began on Wednesday continued until Friday, amid the government’s imposed curfew and internet shutdown across the country.

On Saturday morning, no protests were reported in most parts of the country, as the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Commission called on Tanzanian authorities to respect the rights of the protestors.

What the UN said about the Tanzania elections and protests

“We urge the authorities to uphold Tanzania’s obligations under international human rights law fully. They must promptly reinstate access to the internet and facilitate citizens’ full enjoyment of their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

“Curtailment of communication will only further undermine public trust in the electoral process,” read the UN statement in part.

The commission also called for the release of the opposition leaders, including opposition leader Tundu Lissu, reported to have been detained and blocked from taking part in the elections.

“All those in arbitrary detention must be immediately and unconditionally released and those held legally must be accorded full due process and fair trial rights,” the commission said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also raised concerns about Tanzania’s elections that led to reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations, urging all parties to end the escalation of violence.