Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — November 5, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Tanzania is facing serious unrest in the wake of its October 29 presidential election after the ruling party declared incumbent Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner with nearly 98 % of the vote. Numerous opposition supporters and civil-society groups say the vote was neither free nor fair and that security forces responded to protests with lethal force.
The main opposition party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)-backed candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has served as Tanzania’s president since 2021, was declared the winner by the electoral commission. The opposition, however, claimed key rivals were barred and intimidation was widespread.
Following the announcement, protests broke out in major cities including Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza, with demonstrators decrying what they called a “sham election”. According to opposition lawyer Boniface Mwabukusi, the law-society group Tanganyika Law Society estimates over 1,000 people may have been killed, though the government strongly disputes that figure. Diplomatic sources corroborate that the death toll is significantly higher than official numbers.
Witnesses and human-rights organizations report widespread use of live bullets, tear-gas and internet shutdowns as security forces responded. The United Nations indicated it had credible reports of at least ten deaths and called for a thorough independent investigation.
In Dar es Salaam, hospital workers reported receiving large numbers of gunshot victims; human-rights monitors said phones were inspected at checkpoints and videos uploaded of bodies being loaded into unmarked vehicles.
The African Union’s observer mission said the election “did not comply with AU normative frameworks and international standards for democratic elections.” They noted ballot-stuffing, multiple voting papers issued to individuals and the absence of opposition party agents during counting.
Government officials maintain the election was valid and that the security forces acted to maintain law and order. President Hassan in her swearing-in urged calm and said she “regrets the acts of violence that resulted in loss of life.
As the unrest continues, Tanzania faces both domestic pressure and international scrutiny. The opposition has called for a transitional government and for the investigation of alleged mass killings and electoral fraud. Observers say the crisis could have long-term consequences for the country’s democratic institutions and stability.