Omanghana
One year after Tanzania’s disputed general election, families of people killed or missing during the violence are still seeking answers and accountability.
A government-appointed commission recorded 518 deaths linked to the unrest surrounding the October 29, 2025, vote. Its chairperson said the figure might not be final, while opposition figures and rights groups have estimated that the toll could be substantially higher.
The commission’s count included 502 civilians and 16 members of the security forces. More than 2,000 people were reported injured. The figures cover deaths linked to the unrest and do not establish who was responsible for each death.
Disputed election and protests
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the presidential election with approximately 98 per cent of the vote. The result followed the exclusion of major opposition parties and candidates, raising concerns about the competitiveness of the election.
Among those unable to contest was the main opposition party, Chadema. Its leader, Tundu Lissu, had been arrested in April 2025 and charged with treason after campaigning for electoral reforms.
Protests and violence broke out on election day and continued afterwards. Human Rights Watch says police and people in plain clothes killed hundreds of protesters and bystanders during the unrest.
The government-appointed commission characterized the events as planned and coordinated violence. Rights organizations have criticized its findings for failing to adequately examine the actions of security forces.
Calls for accountability
United Nations human rights experts said that, one year after the violence, no state officials had been charged over the alleged abuses. They called for independent investigations and for victims and families to receive answers and justice.
Rights groups have also urged the government to publish the first commission’s full report. President Hassan has since established a second inquiry to examine responsibility for the violence, including allegations of excessive force and cases involving missing people.
Amnesty International says critics, opposition supporters and journalists have continued to face arbitrary arrests, disappearances and restrictions on freedom of expression.
Political tensions remain
Lissu’s treason case remains a focus of attention. Tanzania’s High Court has scheduled its judgment for November 6, 2026. Lissu has argued that prosecutors failed to prove the charge, while the prosecution maintains that its case has met the required legal standard.
Tanzania has faced criticism from Western partners over the election violence. The United States ambassador has called for accountability, while Tanzania has also continued diplomatic engagement with Russia. The country’s prime minister represented it at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
Source: Omanghana
