Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for a second term on Monday under tight security, following an election widely criticised for violence and dismissed by the opposition as a sham.
The inauguration took place at a military parade ground in the capital, Dodoma, rather than a stadium as in previous years. The event was closed to the public but broadcast live on state television.
Samia was declared the winner on Saturday, securing 98% of the vote in an election in which key opposition candidates were either imprisoned or barred from running, leaving her with minimal competition.
International observers have expressed concerns about the transparency of the election and its aftermath, with hundreds reportedly killed in post-election violence.
Accurate figures remain difficult to verify due to a nationwide internet shutdown that has been in place since election day last Wednesday.
At the ceremony, Samia, wearing a red headscarf and dark glasses, took her oath in the presence of regional leaders and dignitaries, including the presidents of Somalia, Zambia, Mozambique, and Burundi.
In her address, Samia praised the electoral commission for conducting the vote with “unquestionable efficiency” but expressed sorrow over the violence that led to loss of life and destruction of property, calling it a stain on Tanzania’s reputation.
She also claimed that some of those arrested were not Tanzanians and assured that security agencies were investigating.
More: BBC News
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