Tanzania’s 2025 Election Sparks Deadly Unrest After Opposition Excluded.

 

Overview

In the wake of the general election held on 29 October 2025 in Tanzania, widespread protests broke out amid accusations of election fraud and the exclusion of major opposition figures. The incumbent, Samia Suluhu Hassan, widely expected to win, was officially declared the victor with an overwhelming result. However, the election’s credibility has been challenged by domestic opponents and international observers alike.

What Happened

• Major opposition parties were barred from participating: The two leading challengers to President Hassan were either disqualified or arrested in the run-up to the vote, narrowing the choice to mostly minor candidates. 

• On election day and immediately after, protests erupted in key cities including the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. Demonstrators denounced what they saw as a “sham election”. 

• The security response was forceful: The military and police were deployed; a nationwide curfew was enforced; and internet and mobile data access were heavily disrupted.

• Death tolls remain contested: The main opposition party, Chadema, claims as many as 700 people were killed during three days of protests. Meanwhile, the United Nations reports credible sources of at least ten fatalities. The official government figure remains unconfirmed. 

International and Regional Response

The African Union (AU) election observation mission concluded that the election “did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.” 
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW), warned of escalating repression, including arrests of critics, disappearances, and heavy-handed security operations. 

Implications for Tanzania’s Democracy

• Credibility of electoral process: With opposition candidates excluded and observers reporting irregularities (such as multiple ballot-papers and missing party agents), questions loom over the fairness of the vote. 

• Stability and human rights: The large scale of protests and the government’s response raise serious concerns about civil liberties, suppression of dissent, and long-term social stability.

• Regional and global perception: Tanzania’s democratic credentials are under scrutiny. The crisis may affect foreign investment, regional partnerships and aid flows.

What to Watch Going Forward

• Whether an independent investigation is launched into the protests, fatalities and alleged use of live ammunition.

• Possible reforms requested by the AU and other international actors: e.g., strengthening electoral commission independence, media freedom, and opposition access.

• The government’s next moves: whether President Hassan’s administration accepts criticism and opens dialogue, or doubles down on security-first tactics.

• Longer-term effects: How this election and its aftermath will shape the next parliamentary and local elections, and whether opposition parties remain viable.