At least 700 people have been killed in violent unrest following last week’s disputed national election in Tanzania, according to the country’s main opposition party.
A security source also indicated a similar death toll, Al Jazeera reported on Friday.
John Kitoka, spokesperson for the opposition Chadema Party, told AFP that around 350 people were killed in the capital Dar es Salaam and over 200 in Mwanza. Adding casualties from other regions, the total death toll could reach about 700, he said.
While AFP cited security sources confirming the figure, the UN reported a much lower number, saying only 10 people had been killed so far by security forces.
Protests erupted on Tuesday after the country’s two major opposition parties were barred from participating in the election. Demonstrators took to the streets of Dar es Salaam, denouncing election irregularities, political repression, and harsh restrictions.
Protesters reportedly set fire to vehicles, petrol stations, and police stations. The unrest continued for a third day on Friday, with demonstrators demanding that the Election Commission suspend the announcement of results.
In response, the government deployed the army nationwide and shut down internet services in most areas. Witnesses said clashes intensified Thursday night in several neighborhoods of Dar es Salaam, where police fired tear gas and live rounds at protesters defying curfew orders.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has governed Tanzania since independence in 1961. Critics accuse it of manipulating the latest election to prolong its power.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of former president John Magufuli, has faced mounting criticism for consolidating power and silencing political dissent.
HKJ
