The United Nations has raised alarm over what it describes as an escalating campaign of repression in Tanzania following the country’s highly contested October elections, which were overshadowed by deadly violence and sweeping allegations of fraud.
According to rights groups, more than 1,000 people were fatally shot during three days of protests that erupted after the October 29 vote. Opposition leaders and international observers have condemned the election as deeply flawed, citing intimidation, irregularities, and the exclusion of key opposition figures.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote, while several major opposition candidates were either jailed or disqualified ahead of the polls.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that the government has “intensified a crackdown against opponents since the vote.”
Magango reported that since mid-November, dozens of individuals including academics, civil society representatives, and local political leaders have been detained. Several arrests were reportedly carried out by unidentified armed groups, raising additional concerns about legality and accountability.
He added that authorities have widened surveillance of digital communications and imposed new restrictions on fuel sales. These measures, he warned, risk heightening public tensions and severely undermining fundamental freedoms.
In addition to the killings reported during the initial protests, Magango said that more than 2,000 people were detained nationwide after demonstrations broke out over the election results.
More than a month later, Tanzanian authorities have not released any official information regarding the number of fatalities, the circumstances surrounding the deaths, or reports of enforced disappearances. The lack of transparency, Magango cautioned, threatens to further erode public trust at a time of heightened national sensitivity.
He called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all individuals arbitrarily detained.
Nationwide Ban on Planned Independence Day Protests
Magango also highlighted a new nationwide ban on Independence Day protests scheduled for Tuesday, after police issued a blanket prohibition earlier in the week.
“We call for the lifting of such an overbroad, disproportionate step,” he said, emphasizing the responsibility of Tanzanian authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
He reminded the government that firearms must never be used to disperse peaceful assemblies and should only be deployed as an absolute last resort in response to an imminent threat of death or serious injury.
International Concern Continues to Mount
The Tanzanian government has initiated an investigation into the post-election violence, but the UN has urged that the process meet international standards of impartiality, transparency, and thoroughness. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasized the need for strong protections for anyone cooperating with the inquiry, to prevent reprisals.
Despite these calls, Tanzanian authorities last week instructed foreign ambassadors to refrain from making public comments on the violence. However, diplomatic missions from 18 countries including Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and the European Union issued a joint statement expressing their “deep regret” over the loss of life.
The statement stressed the importance of security forces exercising maximum restraint and urged the government to safeguard fundamental freedoms, including access to information and freedom of expression.
As Tanzania navigates the aftermath of a deeply disputed election, the international community continues to press for accountability, transparency, and the protection of basic rights amid growing concern about the country’s political trajectory.
