Crisis Deepens in Tanzania: Opposition Claims 700 Dead in Post-Election Clashes Amid Military Crackdown and Nationwide Internet Blackout

Tanzania has descended into a severe political crisis following the country’s general election, with the main opposition party, Chadema, claiming that approximately 700 people have been killed in three days of violent clashes with security forces across the nation.

The protests, which began immediately after the disputed election held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, quickly escalated after reports of widespread fraud and the disqualification of key opposition figures, leaving President Samia Suluhu Hassan poised for a virtually uncontested victory.

On Friday, October 31, 2025, Chadema spokesperson John Kitoka told international news agencies that their internal count, gathered by party members visiting hospitals and clinics, showed the death toll rising sharply. “As we speak the figure for deaths in Dar es Salaam is around 350 and for Mwanza it is over 200,” Kitoka stated, warning that the total could climb even higher due to a continuing nighttime curfew and communications blackout.

The opposition’s figures are drastically higher than initial confirmations from international watchdogs. The United Nations Human Rights Office confirmed it had received “credible reports” of at least 10 people being killed by security forces firing live ammunition and teargas during the demonstrations. Amnesty International also reported having information indicating at least 100 deaths.

In response to the unrest, which has seen protesters burning tyres and attacking property, the government has imposed a nationwide internet shutdown and a curfew in major cities like Dar es Salaam. The military has also been deployed onto the streets to restore order. The only official government comment came from Army Chief General Jacob Mkunda, who labelled the demonstrators “criminals” and vowed to contain the situation.

The opposition continues to demand an immediate end to the violence and called for the creation of a transitional government to organize fresh, free, and fair elections, rejecting the recently announced results as a farce.³⁸ With the internet blackout entering its third day, the flow of independent information remains severely restricted, deepening fears over the scale of the ongoing crackdown.³⁹