More than 40 African rights groups have accused Tanzanian security forces of killing around 3,000 people after the disputed October 29 general elections, marking one of the deadliest political crackdowns in East Africa.
The claims are detailed in a report released in Nairobi by the “Jumuiya Ni Yetu” movement, meaning “The Community is Ours.” The coalition includes human rights defenders, lawyers, and feminist movements from ten African countries.
Their report alleges mass killings, forced disappearances, and deliberate attempts by authorities to conceal evidence through mass burials and intimidation of medical staff.
The groups are calling for the immediate resignation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the prosecution of senior security officials. They have also urged the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene urgently.
The report links the violence to the October 29 election, which was marred by accusations of fraud, voter suppression, and an internet blackout that prevented transparency.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female president, won the election with 97.66% of the vote, or 31,913,866 out of 32,678,844 ballots cast, according to the National Electoral Commission.
Opposition parties and several international observers have described the vote as deeply flawed, questioning the credibility of the process and the legitimacy of the results.
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Rights groups said their evidence includes photographs and videos that journalists can access. They emphasised that due to continuing internet restrictions, the real death toll could be far higher than reported.
“As of November 7, 2025, at least 3,000 people have been murdered by Tanzanian security forces, with thousands of people still missing,” the statement said. “Amidst the ongoing attempted cover-up, facilitated by the continued internet blackout and bandwidth restrictions, this number could be thousands below the actual death toll.”
Victims allegedly included protesters, medical workers, street children, and civilians uninvolved in demonstrations.
Hospitals were said to be guarded by police and intelligence agents who confiscated phones, deleted footage, and prevented relatives from identifying bodies.
Doctors and nurses were allegedly ordered to harm, with intent to kill, patients critically injured by gunfire.
The report also alleges that the weapons used in the crackdown were imported by a close family member of President Suluhu. These were described as military-grade arms not authorised for standard police operations. The organisations said such details show that the attacks were premeditated and sanctioned at high levels of government authority.
The coalition of rights groups demanded the formation of an independent international fact-finding mission and an emergency session of the African Union Peace and Security Council to address what they called “a humanitarian catastrophe.”
They also called for accountability from the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority for its role in the nationwide internet shutdown, which they argue enabled the cover-up of state violence. The groups further appealed for the establishment of an interim transitional government to restore law and order and ensure justice for the victims.
Tanzania’s government has not yet responded to the report. However, authorities have previously dismissed similar claims, calling them “fabrications meant to destabilize the country.”
Despite the mounting pressure from civil society, no official investigation has been announced, and the blackout continues to hinder communication across much of the country. Human rights advocates warn that unless regional and international bodies act swiftly, more lives could be lost amid ongoing repression and concealment of evidence.
