Samia sends appeal and warning to protesting Tanzanians after swearing-in
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 3, 2025Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for unity and peace in the country following her inauguration for a second term. Speaking at a military parade ground in Dodoma on Monday, November 3, 2025, where the public was barred, she urged citizens to avoid violence, saying it has no value and brings no benefit to anyone.
“Machafuko ndani ya nchi si mema. Hayana bei hayana dhamani. Na si faida kwa yeyote,” Samia said, speaking directly to Tanzanians. She described violence as a path that only measures strength and ability to defend oneself, while dialogue leads to lasting solutions. She appealed for calm and cooperation, emphasising that national security is everyone’s responsibility.
“Kwa hivo ndugu zangu, niwaombe sana tuzingatie umoja amani na utulivu wa nchi yetu. Nitumie fursa hii kutoa onyo kama mama, kuto onyo kwa wale wote waliochochea uvunjivu wa amani. Na nawataka watambue kuwa vurugu na uvunjivu wa amani uishia kupimana nguvu na uwezo wa kujihami, ila mazungumzo huzaa mshikamano. Sasa tuchague lenye manufaa kwetu kwani usalama wa taifa lolote, hulindwa na wote. kwa nguvu zote na gharama zozote.”
Also watch: Amnesty International sounds alarm over escalating repression in Tanzania.
Samia’s second-term swearing-in comes after an election that has drawn widespread criticism. She was declared the winner with 98 per cent of the vote in a poll that opposition parties rejected as unfair.
Concerns over poll violence
Key rival candidates were either barred from running or imprisoned. International observers and human rights groups have raised concerns about the transparency of the vote and the violence that followed.
The unrest has led to significant hardship. The UN human rights office reported credible evidence of deaths in several cities, while opposition sources claim hundreds of people have been killed. Following the violence, prices of food, fuel, and other essentials have more than doubled in some areas. Schools and public transport have been disrupted, and the country’s internet has been shut down since election day.
At the ceremony, Samia, wearing a red headscarf and dark glasses, took the oath in front of regional leaders, including the presidents of Somalia, Zambia, Mozambique, and Burundi.
Police blamed motorbike operators and foreign nationals for some of the unrest, urging citizens to report any unfamiliar individuals. The situation has drawn international attention, with calls for restraint from the EU, the UN, and the Pope.