The African Union (AU) election observation mission has concluded that Tanzania’s general elections “did not meet democratic standards”, following a controversial vote marred by violent protests.
In its preliminary findings, the AU mission reported serious irregularities, including ballot box stuffing, multiple ballot distributions, the absence of political party representatives, and the removal of some observers during the vote counting process.
The assessment comes after President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote, a result denounced by the opposition as massive electoral fraud, sparking widespread demonstrations rejecting the outcome.
The Tanzanian government, however, insisted the elections were “free, fair, and transparent,” dismissing the international criticism as unfounded.
