Tanzania’s disputed presidential election has sparked deadly protests, opposition allegations of hundreds of deaths, and international concern over a sweeping crackdown. Official results gave President Samia Suluhu Hassan a 98% victory, but the main opposition Chadema was barred from participating, and government forces stand accused of violently suppressing demonstrators and critics.
Tanzanian Opposition: Allegations of Sham Elections and Mass Deaths Spark Outcry
Election Results and Opposition Claims
President Hassan was sworn in amid an information blackout and unprecedented security, with the public excluded from the ceremony. The banned Chadema party declared the election “completely illegitimate,” citing over 1,000 deaths nationwide and asserting that hospitals are overwhelmed with victims. Multiple rights groups and diplomatic sources estimate hundreds of fatalities, yet the true toll is obscured by ongoing internet shutdowns.
Deadly Crackdown and Rights Violations
Protests erupted across Tanzania after the October 29 vote, as young demonstrators and opposition supporters challenged alleged electoral fraud and repression. Witnesses and activists describe police opening fire, mass burials, and reports of torture and disappearances. Chadema’s leader Tundu Lissu remains jailed on treason charges, facing the death penalty if convicted.
International Reaction and Human Rights Concerns
The United Nations, African Commission, and European Union have expressed alarm at the violence and restrictive tactics, calling for investigations and the restoration of free expression. The Tanzanian government has denied excessive force and insisted the election was “secure,” pointing to isolated unrest despite mounting evidence to the contrary.