- African human rights groups accused President Samia Suluhu’s government of genocide and human rights violations following the post-election protests.
- It claimed that more than 3,000 people had been killed, thousands were still missing, and mass graves were being dug up in major cities.
- Security forces are reported to have carried out night raids, arbitrary arrests, and targeted shootings, even of children.
- Tanzanian courts charged hundreds with treason, criticizing the lack of legal representation and alleged overreach
The government of President Samia Suluhu has been under great pressure following its response to protest after the election that shook the nation.
Source: UGC
This comes after a coalition of African civil society organizations accused the government of Sulu for managing mass killings and gross violations of human rights.
What are the claims against the Settlement government?
The groups claim that more than 3,000 people have been killed and thousands are still missing while the security forces are alleged to have suppressed opposition demonstrations and silenced the opposition.
In a joint statement under the Jumia Ni Yetu movement and the African Solidarity Union, more than 40 human rights groups from across Africa described it as a “state-organized killing.”
They accused the authority of Tanzania by systematically targeting citizens in what they called crimes against humanity.
The union called on Suluhu to resign immediately and face charges, saying he had lost the moral authority to rule.
The statement claimed that security forces raided homes in major cities, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Songwe, shooting civilians for protesting the results of the October 29 election or rejecting what they called “strengthening authoritarian rule.”
Witnesses were reported to describe night raids, arbitrary arrests, and killings, claiming that even children were not spared. “Some have been brutally beaten at their doors and then dragged away by the police, while others have been killed in their homes. The youngest child, who was shot and killed, was one year old. We have received information that mass graves are being dug up in major cities across Tanzania… Many had gunshot wounds to the head and chest, leaving no doubt that these were targeted killings,” read the statement in part.
The groups also claimed that government officials were digging mass graves in several areas with the aim of hiding the extent of the killings.
They said families searching for loved ones were harassed, while hospitals treating the injured were put under surveillance.
Medical personnel, according to the statement, were pressured to stop treating gunshot victims.
“Doctors and nurses were being ordered to ‘kill’ those in intensive care with gunshot wounds. We believe that at least 2,000 missing bodies reported by families are among those buried in these mass graves,” the groups demanded.
How do Tanzanian courts respond to the chaos?
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 meeting of the Peace and Security Council to address what it described as a growing humanitarian crisis.
Source: Instagram
The allegations came as Tanzanian courts charged hundreds of people with treason due to the same election violence.
On Friday, November 7, prosecutors in Dar es Salaam charged at least 145 people with conspiring to block the 2025 general election and intimidate government officials.
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According to France 24, the defendants were accused of destroying public property and conspiring to undermine the government.
None of the defendants appeared to be prominent in the public eye, and many reportedly lacked legal representation.
Judicial sources claim that more than 240 people were charged in total, while human rights lawyers say the number could exceed 250.
Lawyer Peter Kibatala confirmed that the defendants faced two main crimes: conspiracy to commit treason and treason itself.
Why was the Tanzanian election contested?
Earlier, the main opposition party, CHADEMA, which was barred from participating in the elections, claimed the real death toll was more than 1,000.
The contested election saw Suluhu declared the winner with 98% of the vote after the two main opposition candidates were eliminated.
Opposition leader Tundu Lissu himself was charged with treason in April, fueling allegations that the electoral process was rigged to prevent genuine competition.
Later, the African Union observer mission concluded that the vote was unreliable, citing overcrowding and intimidation.
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