Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – November 11, 2025
Alarming reports from Tanzania reveal a deepening human rights crisis in the wake of last month’s disputed elections, with hundreds feared dead and many more missing or detained, according to the United Nations human rights office (OHCHR).
The unrest erupted on October 29 when widespread protests broke out following the controversial re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Demonstrations quickly turned violent, and evidence has surfaced of a brutal crackdown by security forces.
Families Desperate for Answers
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed grave concern over disturbing accounts of families searching in vain for missing loved ones, making desperate rounds between hospitals and police stations.
“There are harrowing reports of bodies being removed from public areas and medical facilities, allegedly by security forces, and taken to unknown locations—possibly to conceal evidence,” Türk said, calling the situation “deeply troubling.”
Unverified Death Toll and Internet Blackout
While the true scale of the tragedy remains unclear due to an ongoing internet shutdown and a volatile security climate, OHCHR has received credible reports of extensive violence and a growing number of casualties.
Opposition party Chadema confirmed that several senior leaders were detained during the protests, with only a few granted bail in recent days. Over 150 individuals have reportedly been arrested since the vote, including minors. Alarmingly, many of those detained have been charged with treason—a serious accusation under Tanzanian law.
UN Calls for Accountability and Transparency
High Commissioner Türk has called on Tanzanian authorities to:
- Publicly disclose the whereabouts of missing individuals.
- Return the bodies of the deceased to their families for proper burials.
- Release all individuals arbitrarily detained, especially opposition figures and protestors.
- Guarantee due process in accordance with international human rights obligations.
Election Aftermath
President Hassan was declared the winner of the general election with an overwhelming 98% of the vote, a result rejected by opposition parties and sparking nationwide protests.
The global human rights community is now urging swift, transparent investigations and the protection of civil liberties in Tanzania to prevent further escalation.
