DAR ES SALAAM (BN24)— Protests intensified Thursday across Tanzania’s major cities after a general election that many residents and opposition figures described as unfair and marred by repression. In Dar es Salaam, police used tear gas and fired gunshots into the air to disperse demonstrators who returned to the streets following violent clashes during Wednesday’s vote.
Demonstrators in the commercial capital, as well as in northern cities including Arusha and Mwanza, protested the disqualification of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s two most prominent challengers and what they describe as an escalating clampdown on political dissent. Witnesses reported that government offices and other buildings had been set ablaze during Wednesday’s unrest, prompting authorities to impose an overnight curfew in Dar es Salaam, a city of more than seven million residents. Internet access, disrupted during the election, was slowly returning by Thursday.
Human rights activist Tito Magoti said he had received reports of at least five deaths linked to Wednesday’s protests, while a diplomatic source told Reuters there were credible reports of at least 10 fatalities in Dar es Salaam. Government officials and police spokespeople did not respond to repeated requests for comment, and Reuters could not independently verify the casualty figures.
Provisional results announced by the state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation showed Hassan winning commanding majorities across numerous constituencies. The president, who has held office since 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, initially received praise for easing restrictions on opponents and reducing censorship that had intensified under her predecessor. However, critics note that the current administration has continued to face accusations of unexplained abductions and harassment of political opponents. Although Hassan ordered an investigation into alleged abductions last year, no official findings have been released.
Dozens of protesters returned to the streets Thursday in at least three neighborhoods of Dar es Salaam, where police fired tear gas and gunshots, according to Reuters witnesses. Smaller demonstrations were also reported in Arusha and Mwanza. The British government confirmed that international flights to and from Dar es Salaam’s airport had been canceled, and flights to Arusha and near Mount Kilimanjaro were also suspended.
Magoti described the protests as a reflection of Tanzania’s growing civic consciousness. “The people are rewriting our political culture from being cows, if I use this word respectfully … to being active citizens,” he said.
The unrest stems largely from the exclusion of the opposition’s leading parties. Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, was disqualified in April after refusing to sign a government-mandated code of conduct, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, was charged with treason. The candidate of ACT-Wazalendo, another opposition party, was also barred from contesting. As a result, Hassan faced only minor-party challengers in the presidential race, raising concerns about the credibility and competitiveness of the election.
The government instructed civil servants to continue working from home through Friday and advised the general public to remain indoors unless necessary, a directive posted on the official Instagram account of government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa.
Political analysts say the protests highlight Tanzania’s increasingly tense political landscape and underscore longstanding concerns about the fairness of elections in the country. Opposition parties and rights organizations have criticized the government for undermining democratic processes through disqualifications, arrests, and intimidation. The unrest also tests Hassan’s leadership at a time when she has sought to balance political reform with continuity from Magufuli’s more authoritarian style.
The ongoing demonstrations carry broader implications for Tanzania’s stability, economic activity, and international image. Dar es Salaam, as the nation’s economic hub, has seen businesses shuttered and transport disrupted. Meanwhile, Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago that also held elections on Wednesday, continues to experience political tension amid long-standing local grievances and opposition suppression.
Observers warn that if the government fails to address citizens’ demands for transparency and inclusivity, Tanzania could face prolonged unrest and damage to its democratic institutions. For now, the protests signal a significant moment in the country’s political evolution, with citizens increasingly willing to challenge state authority despite heavy-handed government responses.
