Tanzania’s President Suluhu: Between Reform and Repression

By Caleb Koyo- AUK Media-Nairobi

As dawn broke on Thursday in Tanzania, the country awoke to an uneasy calm after a day of protests and unrest triggered by Wednesday’s general election. The vote — already beset by the exclusion of key opposition candidates, pre-election arrests and growing voter scepticism — spiralled into violence, a sweeping internet blackout and a nationwide curfew.

In the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, protesters torched a local government office and hurled stones at police, who responded with tear-gas and at times live rounds.

Neighbourhoods such as Kinondoni fell silent under heavy patrols and curfew enforcement.

The country’s information grid followed the unrest: mobile data was disrupted nationwide, major messaging apps crashed and many broadcasters either went off-air or ceased updates altogether. The blackout capped months of mounting restrictions on media and political dissent.

In the lead-up to the election, main opposition parties such as CHADEMA and ACT‑Wazalendo were barred from contesting, leaving the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and its incumbent president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, with little meaningful competition.

Many observers described the election as largely symbolic rather than democratic.

Rights groups warn that the crackdown on opposition activists, journalists and civil society over recent years has reached a tipping point. Reports include enforced disappearances, detentions and pervasive media closures.

Regional bodies including the African Union and the East African Community (EAC) have flagged concerns over the internet shutdowns and the lack of transparency.

By Thursday morning the curfew had slightly eased, but the streets of Dar es Salaam remained unnervingly quiet: soldiers stood at intersections, smouldering wreckage littered corners, and residents exchanged updates in private chat groups rather than public forums. A business hub once alive with commerce now felt like a ghost town.

Tanzania’s stability matters not only domestically but regionally — as a key trade corridor, investment destination and refugee host. Political analysts suggest that the country could face diplomatic isolation and deterred investment if the crackdown continues.

For now, the ruling party appears poised to solidify its control — yet beneath the enforced silence, dissatisfaction remains palpable. Many citizens appear fed up with being silenced; at the same time, for many, silence may seem the safest option.