AU Observers: Tanzania’s Elections Fell Short of Democratic Standards
Observers reported multiple cases of ballot stuffing, voters being issued several ballot papers, and the absence of party agents in several polling stations. Some election monitors were reportedly expelled during the counting process
The African Union (AU) observer mission has declared that Tanzania’s October 29 general elections failed to meet democratic and international standards, citing serious irregularities and violations that undermined the credibility of the process
According to the AU’s preliminary report released on Wednesday, the polls that handed President Samia Suluhu Hassan a sweeping 98% victory did not comply with the AU’s principles or international obligations for free and fair elections
“At this preliminary stage, the Mission concludes that the 2025 Tanzania General Elections did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections,” the statement read
Observers reported multiple cases of ballot stuffing, voters being issued several ballot papers, and the absence of party agents in several polling stations. Some election monitors were reportedly expelled during the counting process
The government has defended the election, describing it as “fair and transparent.” However, opposition party CHADEMA, which was barred from participating, claimed the vote was fraudulent and has documented hundreds of deaths linked to the ensuing protests
Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, estimated that more than 1,000 people may have died, though he noted that confirming the exact figure was difficult due to government intimidation of witnesses and restrictions on information sharing
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President Hassan, who was sworn in for another term on Monday, acknowledged that some deaths occurred but dismissed the opposition’s death toll as “hugely exaggerated”
The AU mission urged Tanzanian authorities to “prioritise electoral and political reforms to address the root causes of its democratic and electoral challenges witnessed ahead of, during, and after the elections”
The disputed election has sparked widespread concern both domestically and internationally over Tanzania’s democratic trajectory and human rights record
