#opposition-exclusion

#opposition-exclusion

We are seeking votes for our candidate, Mama Samia Suluhu Hassan our mother with all our effort and commitment, the 37-year-old told the crowd, posting photos and videos to her 11 million Instagram followers. Her account, filled with pro-government content including a profile picture of the president, goes beyond simple celebrity support. It is emblematic of an unfolding digital battle as Tanzania prepares to vote on October 29.

However, protests broke out in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city, and several other cities during the vote. Demonstrators were enraged by the exclusion of the main opposition candidates in the presidential race and what they say is the increasing repression of government critics. Tanzania police declared a curfew amid the growing unrest. The government deployed the military on the streets in a bid to restore public order following reports of vandalism, looting and attacks on polling stations, particularly in major cities.