Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has accused the police of killing large numbers of protesters following the 29 October general election and of disposing of bodies to conceal the scale of casualties. The government has rejected the higher death tolls as exaggerated and has not provided an official figure.
CHADEMA officials told international media that fatalities number in the hundreds or more and that families have been blocked from recovering bodies from hospitals and morgues. Independent verification remains difficult amid reports of curfews, the deployment of the military, and restrictions on internet access in the days after the vote. Tanzania’s police have warned citizens against sharing images online that could “incite panic,” threatening legal action for posts deemed to violate the law.
International organisations have reported deaths but vary widely on numbers. The UN human rights office said on 31 October it had credible reports of at least 10 people killed during protests in several cities. Human Rights Watch, in a statement on 4 November, documented the use of live ammunition and tear gas by security forces and described a broader pattern of abuses linked to the post-election crackdown.
The African Union’s human rights body expressed “extreme concern” at the situation, citing reports that “hundreds” may have been killed or injured, while noting that a nationwide internet shutdown had impeded verification. On 5 November, the AU observer mission concluded the polls were not in line with democratic principles, citing ballot stuffing, multiple voting papers issued to individuals, and the expulsion of observers in some locations.
A joint statement from the foreign ministers of Canada, Norway and the United Kingdom on 31 October referred to “credible reports of a large number of fatalities and significant injuries,” urging Tanzanian authorities to act with maximum restraint and to uphold the rights of assembly and expression. Several governments and international outlets have also reported curfews and connectivity restrictions during the unrest.
The protests erupted after key opposition figures and parties, including CHADEMA and ACT-Wazalendo, were disqualified from the ballot earlier this year. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with about 98 per cent of the vote and was sworn in for a second term on 3 November, while the opposition called the process neither free nor fair. Tanzania’s government has denied excessive use of force by security services and has dismissed the opposition’s casualty figures.
Tundu Lissu, CHADEMA’s leader and a prominent critic of the government, has been in detention for months on treason and related charges. In August, a Tanzanian court barred live coverage of his trial. Rights groups and foreign observers have characterised the broader political environment as severely constrained ahead of the polls, with opposition rallies curtailed and media restrictions reported.
Accounts from hospitals, civil society actors and diplomatic sources vary on casualty estimates, with figures ranging from at least 10 confirmed by the UN to claims of hundreds by the opposition and other observers. The lack of a comprehensive, independent assessment and the reported disposal or withholding of bodies have made reconciliation of numbers difficult. Officials have advised caution regarding unverified videos shared on social media, and police have indicated that disseminating such content could prompt prosecution.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has urged Tanzania to refrain from disproportionate force, restore full access to communications, and open prompt, credible investigations into alleged violations. The Commission also called on the government to sign and ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.
