"Tanzania's Hassan Sweeps Election with 97% of Vote"

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan Secures Landslide Victory in Disputed Election Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan won the country's disputed election with more than 97% of the vote, according to official results announced early Saturday, in a rare landslide victory in the region. The outcome marks a significant extension of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party's decades-long grip on power, amid concerns over human rights abuses and opposition repression. Hassan appeared at an event in the administrative capital, Dodoma, to receive the winner's certificate from electoral authorities. In remarks afterward, she said the result showed Tanzanians voted overwhelmingly for a female leader. "After the election, it's time to unite our country and not destroy it," Hassan stated, according to the Associated Press. The result, announced by the electoral commission, hands Hassan a five-year term to govern the east African nation of 68 million people, despite violent protests that erupted across the country earlier in the week. The outcome has sparked concerns among opposition groups and human rights organizations, who have accused the government of suppressing dissent and rigging the election. The disputed election has been marred by allegations of vote tampering and intimidation of opposition candidates. However, the electoral commission has maintained that the process was free and fair. The commission's chairman, Jaji Othman, stated that the election was "a success" and that the results reflected the will of the Tanzanian people, according to The Guardian. The landslide victory for Hassan marks a significant milestone for women in African politics, where female leaders are still a rarity. Hassan is the first female president of Tanzania and the second female head of state in Africa, following in the footsteps of Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia. The outcome of the election has significant implications for the region, where authoritarianism and human rights abuses have become increasingly prevalent. The international community has been watching the situation closely, with many countries expressing concerns over the election's legitimacy. As the dust settles on the election, Hassan's administration will face significant challenges in addressing the country's deep-seated issues, including poverty, inequality, and corruption. The opposition has vowed to continue challenging the government's authority, and human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the election's conduct. In the coming days and weeks, the international community will be watching closely to see how Hassan's administration responds to these challenges and whether the country can move forward in a more inclusive and democratic direction.