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Elections

Tanzania on the Brink of Worst Political Crisis in Decades

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Tanzania, once regarded as one of the most stable nations in Africa, is on the edge of its worst political crisis since the advent of multiparty democracy in 1992. The country's recent election has degenerated into chaos, with protests erupting in major cities and a heavy presence of state security failing to deter civilians. The situation has been exacerbated by the government's decision to impose a nationwide curfew, internet shutdown, and alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

Key Takeaways:

  • The election on Tuesday has been marred by protests and allegations of irregularities, with demonstrators targeting the homes of individuals believed to be close to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
  • The Inspector General of Police, Camillus Mongoso Wambura, had assured citizens that the security situation was stable before the election, but protests broke out anyway.
  • The government has imposed a nationwide curfew from 18h00 local time to quell protestors, but this has failed to restore order, with an unspecified number of people having been injured by Wednesday evening.
  • The United States has advised its personnel to shelter in place and avoid demonstrations, while Uganda's opposition leader, Bobi Wine, has expressed solidarity with the Tanzanian protesters.
  • The government has throttled the internet on election day, with a national blackout ongoing on Wednesday night, threatening the transparency and credibility of the election process.
  • Tanzania, which was once known for its calm and unity, is now facing a major crisis, with a majority of the population being young people who are not tied to the country's liberation credentials.
  • The election has been widely criticized for being one-sided, with opposition candidates banned from contesting against President Hassan.
  • The situation in Tanzania is likely to continue to escalate, with curfews and military deployments potentially doing little to calm the situation.

Statistics:

  • Campaigns have resulted in curfews, internet blackout, and deaths unheard of in Tanzania in recent decades.
  • An unspecified number of people have been injured by Wednesday evening, prompting the imposition of a nationwide curfew.
  • The median age of the Tanzanian population is 17 years, with a majority of the population not tied to the country's liberation credentials.
  • The election has been widely criticized for being one-sided, with opposition candidates banned from contesting against President Hassan.
  • The internet has been throttled nationwide since election day, with a national blackout ongoing on Wednesday night.

Sources:

  • CAJ News, "Tanzania explodes after controversial elections"
  • Business Insider, "Tanzania imposes curfew to quell unrest after election"
  • Al Jazeera, "Tanzania election: Protesters clash with police"
  • Human Rights Watch, "Tanzania: Internet Shutdown and Police Crackdown on Protesters"
  • NetBlocks, "Tanzania internet blackout: National connectivity at 0% as of 23:00 UTC"

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