Tanzania is reeling from days of violent unrest following Wednesday’s general election, with hundreds reportedly killed as protesters clashed with security forces across several cities.
According to the opposition party Chadema, at least 700 people have died in the chaos, while diplomatic sources cited by the BBC estimate around 500 confirmed deaths. The country has been under a near-total internet blackout since Wednesday, making it difficult for journalists and international observers to verify casualty figures.
The protests erupted after allegations of widespread election rigging and the disqualification of key opposition candidates, which many believe tilted the vote in favor of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has ruled since 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
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Witnesses report that the demonstrations, driven mostly by young Tanzanians, have spread rapidly across major urban centers, including Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Arusha. In the capital, violent confrontations were recorded in Salasala, Yombo, and Tegeta, despite the army’s warning to protesters to vacate the streets immediately.
Videos shared before the blackout showed armed officers dispersing crowds with live ammunition and tear gas, sparking widespread condemnation from human rights groups. “We are calling for international intervention,” a Chadema spokesperson said, insisting that the current situation amounts to a “massacre of innocent citizens.”
International observers have expressed concern over the deteriorating situation. The African Unionand United Nations have urged restraint, calling for dialogue and a transparent review of the election results.
The Tanzanian government has not yet released an official casualty count but maintains that the elections were “peaceful and credible.” However, local media outlets report that morgues and hospitals are overwhelmed, raising fears of an even higher death toll.
As tensions continue to rise, many fear the violence could plunge the East African nation into its worst political crisis in decades.
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