Canada, allies raise doubts over Tanzanian election as president claims landslide victory

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan holds a spear during her swearing-in ceremony in Dodoma on Nov. 3.

Tanzania’s traditional allies, including Canada, are questioning the fairness of a disputed election that delivered a landslide victory of 98 per cent to President Samia Suluhu Hassan after the two biggest opposition parties were banned from the ballot.

Hundreds of people have been killed by Tanzania’s security forces in several days of protests against the Oct. 29 election, according to opposition activists and civil society groups. Authorities shut down the internet to hinder communications, imposed a nightly curfew and deployed soldiers on the streets to reinforce the police.

Ms. Hassan was sworn in for a second term on Monday under heavy security at a military parade ground,