November 1, 2025 | 03:21 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Tanzania after taking to the streets to protest the results of this week's presidential election, France 24 reported. Citizens are discontent with the re-election of the increasingly authoritarian incumbent, Samia Suluhu Hassan, who ran unopposed after her main challengers were jailed or barred from the race.
Hundreds of people were killed during the three-day election protests in the country, said the main opposition party on Friday, October 30, 2025. Despite the high death toll, people continued protesting amidst internet blackouts.
"As we speak the figure for deaths in Dar (es Salaam) is around 350 and for Mwanza it is 200-plus. Added to figures from other places around the country, the overall figure is around 700," said John Kitoka, the spokesperson for the main opposition party, Chadema.
"The death toll could be much higher," he warned. He mentioned that the killings could have occurred during the nighttime curfew.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose government is accused of conducting a campaign of repression, has sought to strengthen her position. She silenced criticism within her party in an election with almost no competitors, as her main challenger was either imprisoned or barred from standing.
The Wednesday election turned into chaos as huge crowds took to the streets in Dar es Salaam and other cities. The masses tore down her posters and attacked the police and polling stations, which led to internet shutdowns and curfews.
Due to the ban on most foreign journalists covering the elections and the communication blockade entering its third day, information from the field has become scarce.
Chadema, which was banned from participating in the election, stated that the protesters marched towards the city center in Dar es Salaam on Friday. The masses were met with a heavy presence of police and military.
A security source stated that they had heard reports of over 500 deaths, possibly 700-800 nationwide. Many hospitals and health clinics were too afraid to speak directly to journalists.
Local news sites have not been updated since Wednesday, and Hassan has not commented on the riots yet. The only official statement came from military chief Jacob Mkunda on Thursday night. He referred to the protesters as criminals.
In Zanzibar, a popular tourist destination, Hassan's ruling party was declared the winner of the local polls on Thursday.
The opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, rejected the results. "They have robbed the people of Zanzibar of their voice... The only solution to deliver justice is through a fresh election," they said.
A senior party official stated that ballot boxes had been filled. People had been allowed to vote multiple times without identification, and their election monitors had been expelled from the vote-counting room.
At an opposition supporters' meeting in Zanzibar, there was anxiety and fear. "There has never been a credible election since 1995," said a 70-year-old man, referring to Tanzania's first multiparty elections.
No one interviewed mentioned their names. "We are afraid of speaking because they might come to our houses and pick us up," said one of them.
Hassan has faced opposition from some military and allies of her stubborn predecessor, John Magufuli, since taking over after his death in 2021, analysts said. They said that she wanted an outright victory to strengthen her position. Authorities banned the main opposition party, Chadema, and tried its leaders on charges of treason.
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