President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won the Tanzanian preliminary election. Taking more than 95% of the vote, preliminary results on state TV showed after three days of violent protests. Final results were expected in the coming hours, and state television said a quick swearing-in ceremony would take place on Saturday, according to an AFP journalist who relayed information by phone because Tanzania is still under an internet blackout.
The main opposition party, Chadema, says hundreds of people have been killed by security forces since protests broke out on election day on Wednesday, according to the news agency AFP. Hassan has not made any public statement since the unrest began.
Her government denies using “excessive force” but has blocked the internet and imposed a tight lockdown and curfew nationwide, making it hard to get any information. News websites have not been updated since early Wednesday and journalists are not allowed to operate freely in the country.
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UN chief Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned” about the situation in Tanzania, “including reports of deaths and injuries during the demonstrations,” his spokesman said in a statement.