China, the US and two opposing takes on Tanzania’s presidential election
- Beijing supported its long-standing ally while Washington raised concerns about electoral irregularities
- Tanzania is home to a major Belt and Road Initiative project that has been put on hold by re-elected President John Magufuli
China and the United States are at odds over the presidential election in Tanzania last week, with Beijing swiftly congratulating John Magufuli on his re-election and Washington raising concerns about the arrest of opposition politicians.
On the weekend, China was the first country outside Africa to congratulate Magufuli, the president of Beijing’s long-time ally in the region.
“I believe that under the leadership of President Magufuli, Tanzania will make greater achievements on the path of national development,” said Wu Peng, director of African affairs at China’s foreign ministry.
Magufuli won a second term with 84.3 per cent of the vote in Wednesday’s presidential elections, and his Chama Cha Mapinduzi party won all but eight of 264 constituency seats around the country.
But the US said on Monday that it was concerned by “reports of significant and widespread voting irregularities, internet interruption, arrests, and violence by security forces both in mainland Tanzania and on Zanzibar”.
The European Union also said it had noted disruption of social media before, on and after election day, as well as claims by opposition candidates that they did not benefit from a level playing field during the electoral process.