On November 13, 2025, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jim Risch (R-ID), its chairman, issued a joint bipartisan statement criticizing Tanzania's recent general elections and calling for a reassessment of U.S.-Tanzania bilateral relations. The elections, held on October 29, 2025, reelected incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party with over 76% of the vote amid widespread allegations of irregularities, voter suppression, and pre-election manipulation.In their statement, the senators described the electoral process as "marred by state-sponsored political repression, targeted abductions and manipulation," asserting that the outcome "was decided well before Tanzanians cast their ballots on October 29th." They highlighted how public frustration led to street protests, which were met with a "heavy-handed security response" from the government, resulting in hundreds of deaths, numerous abductions, and imprisonments. Risch and Shaheen further accused Tanzania's ruling CCM party of fostering "an environment of fear that challenges national and regional security," exacerbated by unprecedented violence and internet shutdowns that disrupted businesses, communications, and isolated citizens.
The senators emphasized that the longstanding U.S.-Tanzania partnership—rooted in shared democratic values, global security cooperation, economic prosperity, and strategic investments—now warrants a review due to Tanzania's apparent shift away from the rule of law, reform, and good governance. This call comes amid reports of post-election violence that has drawn international condemnation and tarnished Tanzania's image as a stable East African nation. The statement did not specify immediate actions like sanctions but urged reforms to address the repression.