Tanzania Police Ban New Protests After Election Unrest

Tanzanian authorities have prohibited fresh nationwide demonstrations planned for next week, days after a violent security crackdown on election-related protests.

Unrest broke out after the October 29 polls, with opposition groups accusing President Samia Suluhu Hassan of rigging the vote and orchestrating killings and abductions of political critics. Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote.

Opposition parties and human rights groups claim more than 1,000 people were shot dead during several days of clashes with security forces. The government has yet to release an official casualty figure. Despite efforts to restrict information, public anger continues to rise, and some groups had called for renewed protests on December 9.

In a statement issued late Friday, police spokesperson David Misime said authorities had seen the mobilization on social media but noted that no formal notification had been submitted for any planned rallies. He said the proposed protests “no longer meet the legal requirements to be authorised,” citing “unlawful tactics” observed in recent days.

“The Police Force hereby bans the planned demonstrations described as peaceful and indefinite,” the statement said, adding that the calls to protest were being coordinated using phone numbers and online accounts operated both inside and outside Tanzania, including anonymous platforms.

The ban comes after Meta suspended the Instagram accounts of two Tanzanian activists who shared images of the violent crackdown.

International concern is mounting, with the United States announcing it will “comprehensively review” its relationship with Tanzania in response to the election violence.

AFP