Nov. 3 (UPI) — The president of Tanzania was sworn in Monday for her second term in office following a landslide victory and deadly nationwide protests in the east African nation.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was inaugurated on a military base in the nation’s capital city, Dodoma. On Saturday, she was declared the winner with 98% of the vote.
Hassan, who was previously the vice president and took over as president four years ago upon the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, held a private ceremony.
Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, was barred from running in the election and called the results called a “sham.”
Last week, the party alleged nearly 800 demonstrators had been killed following police clashes with reports of tear gas and government buildings set on fire.
Chadema party leaders have called for new elections.
“These results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania,” the party said in a statement.
According to the United Nations’ human rights office, it said credible reports indicated possibly 10 civilians in three cities were killed.
But “no official figures” of protestor deaths have been recorded by Tanzania’s government, which denied use of “excessive force.”
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