Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered a formal investigation into the deadly violence that erupted during the recent election that secured her reelection, while signaling possible leniency for protesters facing treason charges.
President Hassan won a second term with 98 percent of the vote on October 29, according to the national electoral commission, in a race where several key opposition figures were either jailed or barred from contesting. Allegations of electoral fraud, coupled with accusations of heavy-handed state repression, triggered widespread unrest marked by an internet shutdown and what opposition groups say were hundreds of protester deaths at the hands of security forces.
Addressing the opening of the new parliament on Friday, Hassan expressed sorrow over the loss of life and announced the establishment of an inquiry commission to examine the events surrounding the election-period violence. It marked her first conciliatory tone toward protesters since the crisis began. The government has not yet released any official casualty figures.
Hundreds of demonstrators are currently facing treason charges an offense that carries the death penalty in Tanzania but Hassan hinted at clemency as part of broader efforts to stabilize the country.
“I realise that many youths who were arrested and charged with treason did not know what they were doing,” she said, directing law enforcement agencies to re-evaluate the severity of offenses, particularly for individuals swept up in the unrest rather than those who acted with criminal intent.
The turmoil marks a dramatic reversal from the early days of Hassan’s presidency. After assuming office in 2021 following the sudden death of former president John Magufuli, she initially earned praise for easing political restrictions and allowing greater space for media and opposition activity. However, rights groups say the political environment deteriorated sharply in 2024, with allegations of enforced disappearances, targeted killings, and intense pressure on government critics.
Among the most high-profile cases is the disappearance of Humphrey Polepole, a former government spokesperson and ambassador, who went missing from his blood-stained residence on October 6 after publicly criticizing the administration.
The escalating violence has drawn condemnation from the United Nations, Western governments, and U.S. lawmakers. Two members of the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee denounced the election as deeply compromised, citing “state-sponsored political repression, targeted abductions and manipulation,” and urged Washington to reassess its relationship with Tanzania.
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Legal and Human Rights Centre reported that its observers were harassed by police at a Dar es Salaam hotel this week, alleging that officers confiscated laptops and phones during what it described as an intimidating operation.
The inquiry commission is expected to face significant scrutiny as the nation reckons with one of its most turbulent electoral periods in recent history.
