Tanzania’s opposition has accused the government of a brutal crackdown that left hundreds dead during three days of post-election protests. The country remained under a near-total internet blackout on Friday, while authorities denied any use of excessive force or confirmation of casualties.
A security source and a diplomat in Dar es Salaam told AFP that deaths were “in the hundreds” as unrest spread across major cities. President Samia Suluhu Hassan sought a decisive victory in Wednesday’s vote, after sidelining key challengers through arrests and disqualifications.
But protests erupted soon after polls closed, with demonstrators tearing down posters, attacking police, and storming polling stations. Authorities imposed a curfew and suspended internet access as violence engulfed the streets.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said there were “no figures” on deaths and insisted “no excessive force has been used.” Opposition party Chadema claimed far higher numbers, saying at least 700 people had been killed nationwide, including over 350 in Dar es Salaam alone.
Reports from security sources echoed those claims, citing estimates of up to 800 deaths across the country. The United Nations said it had “credible reports” of 10 deaths, while Amnesty International cited at least 100 confirmed fatalities.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “deep concern” over the situation and called for restraint. In Zanzibar, where the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party was declared the winner, the opposition ACT-Wazalendo rejected the results, alleging ballot stuffing and intimidation.
Fear gripped the islands, with residents refusing to speak publicly, fearing retaliation from security forces. Analysts say President Hassan faces internal challenges from military factions and allies of her predecessor, John Magufuli, as she struggles to assert control. Rights groups have condemned what they call a “wave of terror” in Tanzania, warning of a deepening crisis in the East African nation.