A protester holds a placard throughout a picket in Cape City, South Africa, protesting towards the Tanzanian authorities throughout their presidential election in Oct. 2025
RODGER BOSCH/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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RODGER BOSCH/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
NAIROBI, KENYA —The U.S. is “comprehensively reviewing” its ties with Tanzania after the State Division condemned “repression” and “disturbing violence towards civilians” throughout protests that adopted the nation’s disputed October presidential election, which returned President Samia Suluhu Hassan to energy.
Officers mentioned the federal government’s actions increase severe issues concerning the bilateral relationship and the East African international locations’ reliability as a accomplice.
In accordance with the nation’s foremost opposition get together, the United Nations and a number of other rights teams, a whole bunch of individuals could have been killed because of the federal government crackdown on protestors, although the federal government has not launched an official demise toll and impartial verification stays restricted.
That is Washington’s strongest rebuke towards Tanzania which final month noticed the European Union droop tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in assist, citing the crackdown and lack of transparency.
It comes simply days after Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan angrily hit out Western nations, non secular leaders and opposition figures, accusing them of interfering within the nation’s inside affairs.
“Do they nonetheless assume they’re nonetheless our masters, our colonizers? Why, due to the little cash they provide us?” she informed a gathering of elders from the business capital Dar es Salaam.
Hassan described the lethal violence as an tried coup and defended safety forces accused of killing a whole bunch of protesters.
“Have been these actually demonstrations or acts of violence? Folks have been destroying authorities buildings, raiding police stations, and stealing weapons. Police are mandated to guard lives and property. When folks say they used extreme pressure — what have been they alleged to do, simply sit and watch a coup occurring?” She informed the applauding crowd.
Hassan claimed she received 98% of the vote within the Oct. 29 election, regardless that the primary opposition events have been blocked from taking part and a number of other of their leaders have been arrested on treason expenses.
A portrait of Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan through the October election marketing campaign 2025.
MARCO LONGARI/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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MARCO LONGARI/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Hassan turned president in 2021 following the sudden demise of President John Magufuli and initially positioned herself as a reformer. However critics say she has continued and intensified the earlier regime’s crackdown on dissent.
Opposition leaders deny plotting towards the state and say the federal government’s crackdown has killed greater than 2,000 protesters. Dozens have been arrested, opposition workplaces raided, and outstanding organizers compelled into hiding. A whole bunch of protesters stay lacking and are feared lifeless.
Amongst these killed was John Oduor, a Kenyan trainer shot in Dar es Salaam on polling day. Greater than a month later, his physique stays in a Tanzanian morgue, and his household has nonetheless been unable to repatriate him for a standard burial.
“I enchantment to the President of this nice nation, my nation, Kenya — please come out and help us,” Oduor’s elder sister Celestine informed NPR. “We’d like closure as a household. We’re tortured, emotionally and psychologically.”
Forward of deliberate demonstrations on Dec. 9, U.N. human rights consultants condemned widespread violations in Tanzania, together with alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and mass detentions of protesters, opposition figures, and civil society.
“The Authorities should present info on the destiny and whereabouts of all disappeared individuals,” the consultants mentioned. “All restrictions on media protection have to be lifted, as they’re incompatible with Tanzania’s worldwide obligations.”
Amnesty Worldwide and different proper teams says Tanzania’s publish election disaster marks a deepening disaster within the area, with opposition and press freedom crackdowns in East Africa
For the Oduor household and a whole bunch of others looking for family members, the political rhetoric provides little consolation. “Every day with out solutions,” Celestine informed NPR, “is tougher than the final.”
