Post-Election Protests Met With Crackdown in Tanzania

Tanzania’s late-October elections have sparked widespread outrage after allegations of manipulation, repression, and deadly state violence. Months of legal obstruction, abductions, and abuse of opposition figures cleared the way for a landslide victory by incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was declared winner with more than 97 percent of the vote amid low turnout and reports of ballot stuffing.

Protests over the lack of genuine electoral choice were met with lethal force, leaving hundreds dead. Journalists were assassinated, mobile data was restricted, and social media platforms were blocked. Regional and continental observers, including SADC and the African Union, ruled that the elections fell short of democratic standards.

In the aftermath, public trust has collapsed. Independence Day celebrations were canceled to prevent further unrest, while hundreds of young protesters were arrested on treason charges, some still facing trial. Although an official inquiry has been announced, many Tanzanians doubt its credibility.

The unrest reflects a broader regional trend: young, urban populations across East Africa are increasingly rejecting entrenched ruling elites, political repression, and electoral systems that offer little accountability. While the vote has passed, tensions between citizen demands and authoritarian governance in Tanzania remain unresolved.