Tanzania was under lockdown on Thursday amid a sweeping communications blackout, a day after national elections descended into violent unrest with unconfirmed reports of multiple deaths across the country.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who sought to consolidate power in a virtually uncontested election, now faces the deepest crisis of her tenure as protests, gunfire, and widespread arrests were reported in major cities. The main opposition parties had been effectively sidelined before the vote, with key challengers either jailed or disqualified.
Rights groups had warned of a “wave of terror” in the run-up to the polls, citing a surge in abductions and intimidation of activists. On election day, heavily armed security forces were deployed across Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Morogoro, but hundreds of protesters still took to the streets chanting, “We want our country back.”
Unverified footage circulating on social media showed initially small demonstrations growing in size as the day wore on, with police reportedly using live ammunition to disperse crowds. Witnesses said security forces also targeted polling stations and vehicles linked to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
A diplomatic source told AFP that unrest continued well into the night despite a police-imposed curfew. “It’s unprecedented… where we go from here is unclear,” the source said, adding that President Hassan’s status was now “uncertain.”
By Thursday morning, the government had gone silent, and local media – tightly controlled by state authorities – made no mention of the chaos or any election updates. Internet access and mobile networks remained largely cut off, and the army maintained checkpoints across Dar es Salaam and other cities.
Schools and colleges were ordered closed, and civil servants were instructed to work from home, according to reports from AFP correspondents. The blackout has made it difficult to verify casualty numbers, though diplomatic and opposition sources estimated that at least 30 people may have been killed in Wednesday’s violence. Amnesty International said it had verified at least two deaths from social media images and videos but warned the actual number could be higher.
The human rights organisation described the situation as “deeply disturbing” and urged Tanzanian authorities to exercise restraint. “The risk of further escalation is high,” Amnesty said in a statement late Wednesday. Members of the opposition CHADEMA party also told AFP they had received reports of four deaths but could not confirm the figures independently.
Tensions flared further online, with much of the anger directed at Abdul Hassan, the president’s son, who has been accused of overseeing an informal “task force” comprising police and intelligence officers responsible for managing election security. According to the Paris-based publication Africa Intelligence, the task force has been linked to a sharp rise in abductions of government critics in recent weeks.
Among those missing is a popular social media influencer known as Niffer, who had posted humorous videos encouraging citizens to “vote with your masks on.” Activists believe he was abducted two days before the election for allegedly promoting anti-government protests through satire.
Analysts say President Hassan has faced growing dissent within her own administration and among factions loyal to her predecessor, the late John Magufuli, whose iron-fisted rule left deep divisions within the ruling party and security apparatus. Since assuming office in 2021 after Magufuli’s sudden death, Hassan has struggled to balance reformist promises with the entrenched authoritarian structures she inherited.
Initially celebrated by human rights groups for reopening political space and relaxing media restrictions, Hassan’s image has dramatically shifted over the past year. Amnesty International and other observers now accuse her government of presiding over a new wave of repression marked by enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of activists and opposition figures.
Her main challenger, Tundu Lissu, remains on trial for treason — a charge that carries the death penalty — while his party, CHADEMA, was barred from contesting the election altogether. The only other serious opponent, Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was disqualified on what opposition leaders have called “technical pretexts.”
The widespread bans and arrests effectively left Hassan running unopposed, leading critics to label the election a “one-party coronation.” With foreign journalists largely banned from covering the mainland vote, international observers have struggled to verify reports of intimidation, ballot stuffing, and violence.
As the country reels under curfew and an information blackout, analysts warn that the current crisis could have lasting consequences for East Africa’s political stability. “Tanzania is entering uncharted territory,” one regional analyst said. “The government’s silence speaks volumes — and the fear on the ground is palpable.”
