Widespread unrest has gripped Tanzania following the disqualification of several main opposition candidates from the recently concluded general election, triggering protests in major cities including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Dodoma.
Security forces fired live rounds and tear gas to disperse demonstrators on Thursday October 30th, as tensions escalated over allegations of election manipulation and voter suppression. The opposition Chadema party and ACT-Wazalendo condemned the exclusions, accusing the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of acting under government pressure to stifle competition.
Videos shared online showed protesters waving the national flag while chanting slogans against what they described as a “stolen democracy.”
Witnesses reported several injuries and at least three deaths, though police have yet to confirm any fatalities. Authorities have imposed a partial curfew in Dar es Salaam, and internet access was intermittently restricted.
Regional observers have expressed concern over the deteriorating situation, calling on President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government to guarantee citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and transparent elections.
The unrest marks the most significant wave of political violence in Tanzania since 2020, raising fears of prolonged instability in one of East Africa’s previously most stable democracies.
