Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn in for second term amid Tanzania unrest

President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially began her second term in office on Monday, November 3, 2025, following a landslide victory that has left the country deeply divided. The swearing-in ceremony took place in Dodoma City, but the celebrations were overshadowed by a strategic internet blackout and reports of violent clashes between security forces and opposition supporters. While the event was attended by various foreign dignitaries, the atmosphere on the streets was far from celebratory.

Here's the thing: this wasn't just another routine inauguration. For the first time since taking office in 2021, President Hassan faced a direct electoral test. The official results, declared on November 1, 2025, by Jacobs Mwambegele, Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), gave her a commanding lead. But wait, while the numbers look decisive on paper, the process leading up to the vote has been anything but smooth.

A Victory Marred by Digital Silence and Protests

The inauguration was held under a blanket of tight security. In a move that surprised few but angered many, the government implemented a widespread internet blackout during the ceremony. It's a tactic we've seen before in the region, usually aimed at stopping protesters from coordinating in real-time via social media. Turns out, the silence online didn't stop the noise on the ground; opposition parties have been vocal about reports of violence and deaths linked to the electoral process.

In her inaugural address, President Hassan didn't dwell on the chaos. Instead, she urged Tanzanians to embrace unity and peace. She doubled down on her "4R philosophy"—Reconciliation, Resurgence, Reforms, and Rebuilding—which has served as the theoretical backbone of her administration. However, critics argue that the "Reforms" part of that equation has stalled, or worse, reversed.

From Succession to Direct Mandate

To understand how we got here, we have to look back to March 19, 2021. That was the day Samia Suluhu Hassan made history as the first female president of Tanzania. She didn't win an election then; she ascended to the presidency following the sudden death of John Magufuli. For the last few years, she's been operating under a mandate of succession, which is why the October 2025 polls were such a pivotal moment for her legitimacy.

Early in her first term, the world cheered. She seemed to be moving away from the iron-fisted approach of her predecessor, easing the grip on the media and letting opposition voices breathe again. But the tide shifted. By the time she launched her campaign in August 2025 in Dar es Salaam—an event that felt more like a concert than a political rally, featuring top musicians—the mood had soured. Human rights groups began reporting the disappearance of opposition officials, and key challengers found themselves jailed or barred from the ballot.

The Global Stage and Economic Ambitions

Despite the domestic turmoil, Hassan has been an aggressive diplomat. She's spent a significant amount of time building bridges outside Africa, most notably during her visit to the United States in April 2023. During a joint press conference with Kamala Harris on April 15, 2023, she helped secure Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) worth nearly $1 billion in investments from U.S. companies. (That's a massive amount of capital for a country currently struggling with internal stability).

Her international itinerary has been exhaustive. From attending the 76th UN General Assembly in New York in September 2021 to signing mining and technology deals at Expo 2020 in Dubai, she has positioned herself as the face of a "modern" Tanzania. She even spent July 2022 in Malawi, where she worked to introduce the Swahili language into local schools, further cementing her influence in the SADC region.

The Authoritarian Shadow: What This Means for Tanzania

The big question now is: is Tanzania sliding back into the dark days of the Magufuli era? The use of internet blackouts and the reported harassment of political opponents suggest a worrying trend. While the President speaks of peace and unity, the reality on the ground feels more like a crackdown. Many analysts believe the "4R" philosophy is now being used as a shield to deflect from a return to authoritarianism.

The ripple effects of this second term will likely be felt in the diplomatic sphere. The U.S. and EU, who praised her early reforms, may now find themselves in a tricky position. Do they continue to pour investment into the country based on the $1 billion agreements, or do they start questioning the democratic credentials of the administration?

Looking Ahead: The Road to 2030

As the new term begins, the focus shifts to whether President Hassan will actually implement the priorities outlined in her speech or if the government will prioritize control over cooperation. The opposition is battered but not broken, and the disappearance of several officials remains a gaping wound in the country's political conscience. The details on those missing persons are still unclear, and the lack of transparency is fueling further resentment.

For now, the security presence in Dodoma remains high. The government's ability to maintain order without resorting to violence will be the real test of this second term. If the internet remains a tool for censorship rather than connection, the "unity" the President calls for may remain an elusive dream.