Darkness in Dar: Suluhu's location unknown as election violence rocks Tanzania

Violence continued for a second day in major cities as Tanzania remained under total lockdown and a communication blackout. Police shot and killed two people at Namanga township on Thursday afternoon.

Chaos erupted at the border post when police chased protesters from Tanzania into the Kenyan side, where demonstrators torched banners and posters of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Tanzanian police lobbed tear gas canisters and fired live bullets as Kenyan and Tanzanian youth pelted them with stones.

Two protesters — John Kahindi, a local Kenyan businessman, and Tanzanian national Kabuli Balayi — were fatally shot. Their bodies were transferred to a local mortuary, while two others, including a Kenyan police officer, sustained serious injuries.

In Tanzania, mainstream media outlets have been banned from covering the protests, and the whereabouts of senior government officials — including the President — remain unknown.

“We hear she may have relocated to Zanzibar. If this pressure is sustained, she will have to give in and call off these elections. Tanzanians have been patient people, but they are now saying enough is enough,” a source told The Standard.

Police imposed an overnight curfew in Dar es Salaam — a city of more than seven million — on Wednesday, as internet access was cut nationwide. The blackout continued on Thursday.

Demonstrators occupied major towns, targeting and destroying property belonging to senior officials of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party as they demanded the cancellation of last week’s presidential polls.

“Hali ni mbaya (the situation is bad). So far, it is chaotic, and police stations have been burned in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Arusha, Tunduma, Mwanza, Kahama and other towns,” a source said by phone.

In Mwanza, petrol stations were set ablaze and shops vandalised by angry protesters. Riots were also reported in Sirare, Namanga and other towns along the Kenya–Tanzania border.

Protesters are said to be exploiting a standoff between the army and the police, with the former reportedly warning against the shooting or maiming of peacefully picketing citizens.

Although a dusk-to-dawn curfew was announced, it was largely ignored as running battles continued late into the night on Wednesday and were expected to resume on Thursday.

Reuters quoted witnesses saying dozens of protesters returned to the streets of Mbagala, Gongo la Mboto and Kiluvya on Thursday morning, where police fired gunshots and tear gas before the army intervened.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office reported that international flights had been cancelled to and from Dar es Salaam, while airports in Arusha and near Mount Kilimanjaro were closed.

According to Reuters, some protesters coordinated plans for further demonstrations via the Zello app, which allows smartphones to function like walkie-talkies.

Confilicting figures

Conflicting figures of those killed by security forces have emerged. Some sources put the death toll at more than 30. Human rights activist Tito Magoti told Reuters he had verified at least five deaths from Wednesday’s protests. A diplomatic source said there were credible reports of at least 10 people killed in Dar es Salaam alone.

A heavy security presence on Wednesday did little to deter thousands who swarmed the streets of Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza, Tarime and other towns to denounce the polls.

Sources indicated that voter turnout was likely below 30 per cent. In several polling stations, rioters reportedly overpowered clerks and destroyed ballot boxes and election materials.

In Mwanza, youth chanting “We want our country back” set Nyamanoro Police Station ablaze. In Dar es Salaam, protesters hurled stones at police, blocked roads and torched vehicles.

Tanzanians voted on 29 October in an election widely dismissed as one-sided after two main opposition candidates — Tundu Lissu of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo — were barred from running.

Although the High Court dismissed charges against Mpina in August, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) later disqualified him, declaring him “unfit” to contest on integrity grounds. There is no avenue for appealing presidential results in Tanzania, unlike in Kenya where candidates may petition the Supreme Court.

Verified videos showed largely peaceful demonstrations in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Tunduma, Tanga and Mwanza before anti-riot police attacked protesters, sparking violent clashes.

Ahead of the vote, Amnesty International warned that Tanzanian authorities had intensified repression of the opposition, journalists and civil society.

Yesterday, AFP quoted a diplomatic source saying “upwards of 30 people” might have been killed, though this could not be independently verified due to the ongoing lockdown.

“It’s unprecedented. Where we go from here is unclear with Hassan’s status uncertain,” the source said. AFP also reported unrest spreading to Songwe and Arusha, the East African Community headquarters.

The US Embassy in Dar es Salaam warned its citizens to avoid unnecessary movement due to the violence, citing a “widespread internet blackout.”

Diplomatic sources told AFP that unrest persisted into the night despite the curfew, as checkpoints were set up across major cities. The army was deployed Wednesday night to enforce the 12-hour curfew.

Schools and offices were shut, and civil servants were instructed to work from home. Local media made no mention of the violence, and newspapers were absent from the streets.

INEC said vote counting was still under way and that results would be released within three days.

According to Africa Intelligence, much of the anger online has been directed at President Samia’s son, Abdul, accused of heading an informal police–intelligence task force overseeing election security. The unit has been blamed for recent abductions of government critics, including a popular influencer known as Niffer.

Two deaths

Amnesty International said late on Wednesday it had independently verified at least two protest-related deaths, describing the situation as “deeply disturbing” and warning of a high risk of escalation.

Once hailed as a reformist, President Samia has overseen what Amnesty describes as a “wave of terror” — including enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures.

Lissu, her chief challenger, remains on trial for treason and faces a possible death sentence. His party, Chadema, was banned from fielding candidates after refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct without reforms. The only other serious contender, Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, was later disqualified on technicalities — leaving minor parties supportive of the President to contest.

Reuters also reported that government spokesman Gerson Msigwa directed all civil servants to work from home on Thursday unless their duties required physical presence.

Additional reporting by Josphat Kinyanjui