Ruto Misses Suluhu’s Inauguration, Sends DP Kindiki

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Monday at a tightly secured ceremony in Dodoma, following a disputed election that has triggered unrest and diplomatic unease across the region.

Several East African heads of state were notably absent from the inauguration, including Kenya’s President William Ruto and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. President Ruto sent Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in his place, while Uganda also dispatched a delegation instead of its leader. 

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, and Mozambique’s Daniel Chapo were among the few regional leaders who attended. The Tanzanian electoral commission declared Suluhu the winner on 29 October with 97 per cent of the vote, a result that has been widely questioned by opposition groups and observers. 

The election period saw the disqualification of key opposition candidates, including ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina, and the arrest of CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu on treason charges after he called for electoral reforms. Protests erupted across the country following the announcement of the results, with reports indicating that at least 500 people have been killed in post-election violence. 

Authorities have since imposed a nationwide media blackout, cutting access to social media, broadcast services, and electricity in several regions. Shortages of fuel and food have also been reported. Suluhu first assumed the presidency in March 2021 after the death of John Magufuli, having served as his vice president since 2015. 

Her early leadership was viewed as a potential shift towards greater openness, but the recent election and its aftermath have drawn concern about the country’s political direction.