RFK Human Rights strongly condemns the violent repression of peaceful protestors and the internet shutdown in Tanzania during the ongoing general elections. We call on the Tanzanian authorities to immediately desist from their attacks against demonstrators and respect their constitutional and international human rights obligations to promote peaceful assembly. 

On October 29, 2025, Tanzanians went to the polls for national elections marked by widespread irregularities and the systematic elimination of all credible opposition candidates and parties. Main opposition leader Tundu Lissu and his party CHADEMA were disqualified from participating in the elections, and Mr Lissu was charged with treason on spurious grounds. Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpina, was disqualified from standing, and multiple government critics were abducted and arrested in the run-up to the election. Observers had warned of a shrinking civic space in the lead-up to the vote, raising serious concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of the electoral process.  

In this context, thousands of Tanzanians have taken to the streets to protest the abuse of the electoral process and are on their third successive day. In response, the government deployed security forces, including the military, who have violently repressed peaceful protesters in the capital Dodoma, and other cities, including Mwanza and Dar es Salaam. The government has also instituted a nationwide curfew, and internet connectivity remains severely disrupted across the country. According to opposition sources, approximately 700 people may have died in protests following the vote, while the UN has confirmed multiple deaths and injuries linked to election-related violence. 

“The situation in Tanzania is deeply troubling,” said Ikechukwu Uzoma, Senior Staff Attorney at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. “The government’s actions—including the suppression of political opposition, assaults on human rights defenders, and the reported fatal attacks against citizens amid an internet shutdown—constitute a grave violation of democratic principles and human rights. This represents one of the most serious setbacks for democratic governance on the continent in recent years.”

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took office in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female president following the death of President John Magufuli, has previously received international praise for her reformist approach. However, her administration has become increasingly authoritarian. The crackdown on protestors and political dissent raises serious concerns about the erosion of civic space and political freedoms in Tanzania. The use of force against civilians, suppression of opposition voices, and restrictions on media and communication channels undermine public trust and the legitimacy of the electoral process. 

We urge the government to respect its human rights obligation and ensure accountability for all rights violations perpetrated during this electoral cycle.