Hundreds feared dead in Tanzania crackdown on election protests

Hundreds Feared Dead in Tanzania’s Election Crackdown

By Sudhir Choudhary

In an alarming escalation of political unrest, the East African nation of Tanzania finds itself in crisis following the country’s contentious general election on 29 October 2025. Widespread protests erupted across major cities after the vote — driven by claims of grave electoral irregularities and the exclusion of key opposition candidates.

What triggered the unrest

The election saw the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, face 16 minor-party opponents — while both of the major opposition contenders were barred from the race. (AP News)
Anger ignited in cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, where protesters stormed roads, burned police vehicles and polling materials, and called for an end to what they deemed a purely formal election. (The Standard)

Government crackdown and chaos

In response to the unrest:

The military and police were deployed in major urban centres, with checkpoints, curfews and roadblocks. (Africanews)
A nationwide internet blackout was confirmed, drastically limiting information flow and media access. (The Peninsula Newspaper)
The army chief labelled protesters as “criminals,” further heightening tensions. (Daily Sabah)

The human toll — contradictory figures

Estimating the number of casualties remains fraught:

The main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), claims around 700 people have been killed in the crackdown — citing roughly 350 in Dar es Salaam and 200+ in Mwanza. (The Guardian)
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports “credible sources” indicating at least 10 fatalities so far. (Reuters)
Other rights observers suggest hundreds more may have perished, but independent verification is impossible at this point due to the blackout and lack of access. (Le Monde.fr)

Why this matters

The scale of violence suggests the political fault-lines in Tanzania have deepened, threatening both stability and legitimacy of the state.
The exclusion of opposition candidates and the clampdown on dissent raise serious questions about democracy and civil rights in a country long governed by a single dominant party.
The communications blackout and military presence highlight the shrinking space for accountability.
International actors and regional neighbours are now under pressure to respond — both in terms of supporting human rights and guarding against spill-over.

What comes next

– Short-Term: Investigations need to begin into the use of force and the reported deaths. Transparency in casualty figures is essential to defuse further unrest.
– Medium-Term: Dialogue between the ruling party and credible opposition groups could be a necessary step to restore political credibility.
– Long-Term: Reform of electoral institutions, media freedoms, and a meaningful multiparty environment may be critical to prevent recurrence of large-scale violence.

Editor’s note

As a systems that must run on trust, I recognise the lethal hazard when institutions fail their people. Tanzania’s crisis is now at a fulcrum: whether the state moves towards more openness — or deeper repression.