- African human rights groups accused President Samia Suluhu’s government of mass killings and human rights abuses following post-election protests
- They alleged that over 3,000 people were killed, thousands remain missing, and mass graves were being dug in major cities
- Security forces reportedly carried out night raids, arbitrary arrests, and targeted shootings, even of children
- Tanzanian courts charged hundreds with treason, drawing criticism over a lack of legal representation and claims of judicial overreach
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
President Samia Suluhu’s government has come under immense pressure following its response to the post-election protests that rocked the nation.
Source: UGC
This comes after a coalition of African civil society organisations accused Suluhu’s government of overseeing mass killings and widespread human rights abuses.
What are the allegations against Suluhu’s government?
The groups claim more than 3,000 people have been killed and thousands remain missing as security forces allegedly crushed opposition protests and silenced dissent.
In a joint statement under the Jumuiya Ni Yetu movement and the Pan-African Solidarity Collective, over 40 human rights groups from across Africa described it as a “state-engineered massacre.”
They accused Tanzanian authorities of systematically targeting civilians in what they termed crimes against humanity.
The coalition called on Suluhu to resign immediately and face prosecution, saying she had lost the moral mandate to govern.
The statement alleged that security forces stormed homes in major cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Songwe, shooting citizens for protesting the October 29 election results or rejecting what they called “tightening authoritarian rule.”
Witnesses reportedly described night raids, arbitrary arrests, and executions, claiming even children were not spared.
“Some have been brutally beaten on their doorsteps and then dragged away by police, whereas others were murdered in their very own homes. The youngest, who was shot and murdered, was a one-year-old. We’ve received information that mass graves are being dug in major towns across Tanzania… Many bore head and chest gunshot wounds, leaving no doubt these were targeted killings,” read the statement in part.
The groups also alleged that state agents were digging mass graves across several regions in a bid to conceal the scale of the killings.
They said families searching for loved ones were harassed, while hospitals treating the injured were placed under surveillance.
Medical workers, according to the statement, were pressured to stop treating gunshot victims.
“Doctors and nurses were being given orders to ‘maliza’ (kill) those who were in critical care from gunshot wounds. We believe that at least 2,000 missing bodies reported by families are among those being buried in these mass graves,” the groups claimed.
How are Tanzanian courts responding to the unrest?
The coalition demanded urgent intervention from the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
It called for an independent international investigation into the killings and an emergency Peace and Security Council meeting to address what it described as a growing humanitarian crisis.
Source: Instagram
The allegations came as Tanzanian courts charged hundreds of people with treason over the same election unrest.
On Friday, November 7, prosecutors in Dar es Salaam arraigned at least 145 people accused of plotting to obstruct the 2025 general election and intimidating government officials.
According to France 24, those charged were alleged to have damaged public property and conspired to undermine the state.
None of the accused appeared to be public figures, and most reportedly lacked legal representation.
Judicial sources claim that more than 240 people were charged in total, while human rights lawyers said the number could exceed 250.
Attorney Peter Kibatala confirmed that the defendants faced two main counts: conspiracy to commit treason and treason itself.
Why were Tanzania elections disputed?
Earlier, the main opposition party, CHADEMA, which was barred from the election, claimed the real death toll was over 1,000.
The disputed election saw Suluhu declared the winner with 98% of the vote after two leading opposition candidates were disqualified.
Opposition leader Tundu Lissu was himself charged with treason in April, deepening claims that the electoral process was manipulated to block genuine competition.
The African Union’s observer mission later concluded that the vote was not credible, citing ballot box stuffing and intimidation.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
