Mass Protests Erupt in Tanzania Following General Elections on October 29, 2025

Widespread civil unrest erupted across Tanzania following the contentious general elections held on October 29, 2025. The incumbent leader, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, was declared the overwhelming victor by the Independent National Electoral Commission, securing nearly 98% of the ballots cast. This landslide result, viewed skeptically by many observers, immediately triggered mass demonstrations and widespread civil disturbance, particularly engulfing major urban centers such as the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.

The immediate catalyst for these large-scale protests was the systematic exclusion of prominent opposition figures from the electoral process, coupled with widespread allegations of voter suppression and manipulation. Notably, the main opposition group, the Party for Democracy and Progress (Chadema), was barred from participating in the contest. Officials cited the party's refusal to endorse the mandated code of conduct as the reason for their exclusion, effectively removing any viable competition and raising serious questions about democratic fairness.

Despite the political turmoil, voter participation soared to an impressive 87%—a dramatic increase compared to the 50% recorded in the previous election cycle. However, this high turnout failed to lend credibility to the results; rather, the perceived absence of genuine political competition and the near-unanimous victory margin fueled profound public distrust regarding the overall legitimacy of the outcome, leading directly to the street confrontations that followed the announcement.

The government's response to the burgeoning demonstrations was swift, severe, and uncompromising. Authorities confirmed the imposition of a strict curfew across Dar es Salaam and the immediate deployment of military units tasked with stabilizing the volatile situation and quelling the dissent. The crackdown quickly turned deadly. According to documentation gathered by the UN Human Rights Office, the actions taken by security services have resulted in the confirmed deaths of at least 10 individuals.

The casualty figures remain a major point of contention, underscoring the gravity of the crisis. The opposition party Chadema asserts that the actual death toll is drastically higher, claiming approximately 700 fatalities occurred during three days of intense clashes with security forces across the affected regions. Internationally, the situation has drawn sharp condemnation. The European Parliament issued a strong statement characterizing the elections as “neither free nor fair,” reflecting the deep concern voiced by the global community over the escalating violence and the integrity of the democratic process.

In light of the reported abuses, human rights organizations have mobilized. Amnesty International urgently called for an immediate and impartial investigation into the reported instances of security forces improperly using lethal weaponry against citizens. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministers of Great Britain, Canada, and Norway issued a joint appeal, urging maximum restraint from all parties and emphasizing the necessity of respecting the fundamental right to freedom of expression. This crisis unfolded against the backdrop of a nationwide internet shutdown, which severely restricted the flow of information and made independent verification of events extremely challenging, confirming that any form of dissent is being treated as an existential threat to the established political order.