Secretary-General Hails Peaceful, Orderly Elections in United Republic of Tanzania as ‘Concrete Manifestation’ of Commitment to Democracy, Stability

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General congratulates the people, Government and political parties of the United Republic of Tanzania for the peaceful and orderly manner in which the country held its elections on 25 October.  The responsible conduct of the citizens of the United Republic of Tanzania as they cast their ballots and awaited the results was a concrete manifestation of their commitment to democracy, peace and stability.

The Secretary-General remains concerned about the situation in Zanzibar and underscores that any disputes related to the electoral process should be addressed through the existing legal framework in a peaceful and transparent manner.

The Secretary-General calls on all stakeholders to remain calm, reject the use of violence, and avoid making statements that could further increase tensions.