Tanzania is reeling after days of violent unrest following Wednesday’s elections, with the main opposition claiming that hundreds of people have been killed, even as the government insists no “excessive force” has been used. The country remained under an internet blackout on Friday, limiting the flow of information.
A security official and a diplomat in Dar es Salaam told AFP that deaths could be in the “hundreds” as protests continued. President Samia Suluhu Hassan had sought a decisive victory to strengthen her position and silence critics within her party, with many of her main challengers either jailed or barred from running.
However, the elections quickly descended into chaos. Crowds took to the streets in Dar es Salaam and other cities, tearing down campaign posters, attacking police, and targeting polling stations. Authorities responded with an internet shutdown and curfews.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo told Al-Jazeera that the government had “no figures” on fatalities and that “currently, no excessive force has been used.”
Chadema, the main opposition party, reported far higher casualties. Spokesman John Kitoka said around 350 people had died in Dar es Salaam and over 200 in Mwanza, with a nationwide death toll potentially reaching 700. He warned that the number could rise further during the night curfew. A security source estimated up to 700–800 deaths across the country.
With journalists largely barred from covering the election, and communications cut off for a third day, verified information has been scarce. The United Nations reported “credible reports” of at least 10 deaths, while Amnesty International cited information suggesting at least 100 people were killed. Hospitals and clinics have largely refused to speak publicly.
Hassan has not publicly commented on the unrest, and local news outlets have not updated since Wednesday. Army chief Jacob Mkunda called the protesters “criminals” on Thursday. In Zanzibar, Hassan’s party, CCM, was declared the winner of local elections, but opposition party ACT-Wazalendo rejected the results, alleging vote manipulation and calling for a rerun.
Opposition officials alleged ballot box stuffing, multiple votes cast without ID, and removal of election observers. Many residents in Zanzibar expressed fear, saying they dared not speak openly for fear of reprisals.
Analysts say Hassan has faced opposition from parts of the army and supporters of her late predecessor, John Magufuli, since taking office in 2021. In the lead-up to the vote, authorities banned Chadema and put its leader on trial for treason. Human rights groups condemned a “wave of terror” across the country, including high-profile abductions in the final days before the election.
Much anger has centered on Hassan’s son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, accused of overseeing the crackdown. While ACT-Wazalendo was allowed to contest local elections in Zanzibar, its candidate was barred from running against Hassan on the mainland.
