Tanzania's president Hassan to run in October polls

RFI

20 January 2025 at 10:32 am·1-min read

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan walks during a visit at the Bogor palace in Bogor, West Java on 25 January, 2024.

Tanzania's ruling party on Sunday nominated President Samia Suluhu Hassan as its candidate in general elections due in October in the east African country. Hassan took office in 2021 after the sudden death of her authoritarian predecessor John Magufuli.

Her party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), held a general assembly over the weekend at the end of which it said it had named her as its sole candidate for the October poll.

After taking power, Hassan was initially feted for easing restrictions Magufuli had imposed on the opposition and the media in the country of around 67 million people.

But rights groups and Western governments have since criticised what they see as renewed repression.

Politicians belonging to the main opposition Chadema party have been arrested and several opposition figures have been abducted and murdered.

"We achieved many things in the past four years and I promise to deliver more in the coming term," Hassan said in her closing remarks.

"I urge all to maintain our unity as we go to the elections. The polls can seriously divide us but I believe we will remain united now that we have candidates," the president added.

Freed Tanzanian opposition leaders 'beaten' during mass arrests

Challenge on the horizon

The Chadema party has not yet begun the process of selecting its candidate, but is expected to elect a new president on Tuesday.

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Challenge on the horizon

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