Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has rejected President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s landslide election victory, denouncing the results as “completely fabricated” and accusing the government of staging a sham vote marred by repression and exclusion.

The party, which was barred from participating after refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct, issued a blistering statement late on Saturday, saying the poll lacked credibility and legitimacy. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, has been in custody since April on treason charges.

“CHADEMA strongly rejects the so-called election results announced by the National Electoral Commission. These results have no basis in reality, as no genuine election took place in Tanzania,” the party said on X, adding that nationwide demonstrations reflected the public’s rejection of the process.

The government has yet to respond formally to CHADEMA’s statement.

Protests erupted across several regions following Wednesday’s vote, with witnesses reporting violent confrontations between demonstrators and police. Crowds tore down posters of President Hassan, set government buildings ablaze, and clashed with security forces who responded with tear gas and live ammunition.

CHADEMA claimed on Friday that hundreds had been killed in the unrest, though the UN human rights office put the confirmed death toll at ten, spread across three cities. Reuters said it could not independently verify the figures. Human rights groups have also cited widespread arrests and abductions of opposition figures in the lead-up to the polls.

The government dismissed the opposition’s death toll as “hugely exaggerated” and defended its handling of the elections, insisting that order and security must be maintained.

Speaking from the capital, Dodoma, after being certified as the winner, President Hassan condemned the protests as “neither responsible nor patriotic.”

“When it comes to the security of Tanzania, there is no debate we must use all available security avenues to ensure the country remains safe,” she declared.

Authorities have since imposed a nationwide curfew and restricted internet access, with international flights cancelled and operations at the Port of Dar es Salaam severely disrupted.

The unrest has left Tanzania facing its gravest political crisis in years — and questions over whether its democratic institutions can still command public trust.

A 17-year-old boy in Georgia has been charged with murdering his grandmother inside a church in Monroe County, in what authorities have described as a “tragedy of the worst kind.”

Police said the victim, 73-year-old Ollie Hamilton, was found dead on Wednesday evening at Smith Chapel Holiness Church in Athens, Monroe County.

Officers responded to a 911 call around 5:45 p.m. and discovered her body in a hallway leading to the church kitchen, according to county coroner Alan Gurley.

Her grandson, 17-year-old Jadynn Hamilton, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder after allegedly confessing to the killing. Sheriff Kevin Crook told reporters that as the investigation progressed, evidence began pointing toward the teenager, who had initially sought help after the attack.

“This is a tragedy of the worst kind,” Crook said. “You’ve got a beloved church member, family member and community member killed, and then you find out she was killed by another beloved family member.”

Crook added that the case should serve as a warning about unaddressed emotional and behavioural struggles among young people. “Try to learn from every tragedy,” he said. “Were there signs? Were there things we could have caught earlier? A lot of stuff happens among our youth that isn’t communicated.”

The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing. Jadynn Hamilton is being held on a $500,000 bond.

The Comoros has formally declared its intention to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s top judicial body announced on Friday.

According to a statement from the court, the Indian Ocean island nation filed its declaration of intervention on 29 October, citing Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, which allows states to join proceedings involving the interpretation of a convention to which they are parties.

South Africa lodged the case in December 2023, accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza. The case has since drawn support from several countries, including Spain, Ireland, Libya, Mexico, Belgium and Türkiye, all of which have filed similar interventions.

The ICJ has issued three provisional measures in the case, directing Israel to take all possible steps to prevent genocidal acts and to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.

More than 68,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its assault in October 2023, according to local authorities. Despite a ceasefire agreement announced on 10 October 2025 under a 20-point peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump, reports indicate that Israeli forces have repeatedly breached the truce.

Comoros, a small Muslim-majority nation in the Indian Ocean, has long expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause and previously supported legal action against Israel over its blockade of Gaza.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all but essential travel to Tanzania, citing widespread unrest, shortages, and communication disruptions following the national elections held on 29 October.

The advisory extends to staff at the British High Commission, who have also been instructed to avoid non-essential travel. The FCDO said the situation in Tanzania remains volatile, with reports of violent protests, curfews, and severe disruption to transport and essential supplies.

“Shortages of food, fuel and cash have been compounded by the lack of internet services,” the statement noted, warning of uncertainty around international transport options.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the overwhelming winner of the country’s controversial presidential election, securing 97.66 percent of the vote after leading opposition figures were excluded from the race.

The results, announced by the national electoral commission on Saturday, confirmed Hassan’s dominance across all constituencies. State media reported that her swearing-in ceremony would take place later in the day.

The landslide victory came after a fraught week marked by violent protests, allegations of repression, and a heavy security crackdown. Demonstrations erupted across major cities as supporters of the opposition denounced what they described as a rigged process, following the barring of key rivals from contesting.

Travel has become increasingly difficult, with major roads blocked and several airports halting operations. International flights to and from Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam have largely been cancelled, while Arusha and Kilimanjaro airports are only partially operational. Ferry services between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar have been suspended, and the SGR rail line has been shut down.

The FCDO urged British nationals in Tanzania to limit movement, obey curfew regulations, monitor local media, and avoid all demonstrations. Mobile networks and social media remain heavily disrupted, making communication difficult.

For consular assistance, British nationals can contact the High Commission in Dar es Salaam at +255 22 229 0000 or reach the FCDO in London at +44 (0) 20 7008 5000.

The situation remains fluid, with authorities warning that further unrest is possible as election results continue to be contested.