Tanzania remains gripped by the aftermath of its worst post-election violence in decades, a crisis that has shaken its long-standing reputation as a beacon of peace and stability in Africa.
It has also earned the country rare rebukes from regional and continental organisations.
The death toll is not clear but families continue to search for or bury relatives killed following the recent disputed poll, that President Samia Suluhu Hassan won with 98% of the vote.
Samia, the soft-spoken leader whose calm and gentle demeanour, initially inspired optimism when she assumed power in 2021 after the sudden death in office of her authoritarian predecessor, John Magufuli, faces growing criticism.
Analysts note that her government has been accused of suppressing dissent and cracking down on political opposition. Samia has pushed Tanzania to its thick winter of protests, instability and uncertainty, Prof Peter Kagwanja, a Kenyan policy analyst, told the BBC.
Protests organized by young people highlight a global pattern of mobilization against entrenched leadership, reflecting a wide-ranging dissatisfaction with the political landscape in Tanzania.
While unrest is unprecedented for Tanzania, it was preceded by years of political stagnation, youth frustration, and the systemic persecution of opposition leaders like Tundu Lissu, who remains in detention.
Jenerali Ulimwengu, a veteran Tanzanian journalist, argues that the recent election represented a boiling point for a society simmering with grievances against a disconnected leadership. The political atmosphere has deteriorated, with reports of violence, abductions, and arrests targeting opposition members, effectively silencing dissenting voices.
Samia's earlier image as a reformer and a leader open to dialogue has been tarnished by growing accusations of authoritarianism and a commitment to stifle opposition.
As she begins her second term, President Samia faces a crucial challenge of regaining public trust and navigating international scrutiny of her government’s legitimacy.
