Authorities in the United Republic of Tanzania have prohibited planned protests scheduled for the country’s Independence Day warning that such demonstrations amount to an attempted coup.
According to a statement by the government, the protest organisers failed to submit the required formal notice, making any gathering unlawful under current regulation. Home Affairs Minister George Simbachawene said these protests are not permitted and are unlawful To enforce the ban, security agencies deployed heavily across major cities including the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam and Arusha, with police and army presence reported on key roads. At least 10 activists and opposition supporters have already been arrested for social‑media posts tied to the planned protests.
The government has directed citizens to celebrate the national holiday at home, while urging calm and compliance with the directive.Meanwhile, international rights watchers including the office of the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) have called for respect of citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and urged authorities to avoid excessive force.
