Tanzania Protests Escalate as President Bars Opposition Candidates, Human Rights Groups Warn of Violence

Strategic Insights -

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Tanzania's major cities and towns for the third consecutive day, demanding electoral reforms after the country's president barred her two main opponents from running against her. The protests have been met with force by the police, who have used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowds. Human rights groups have warned of growing violence against demonstrators, with reports indicating over 100 dead and dozens injured.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Samia Suluhu Hassan barred her two main opponents, Tundu Lissu and Luhaga Mpina, from running against her in the election due to legal obstacles.
  • Tundu Lissu, the leader of the main opposition party Chadema, has been on trial for treason since April and was denied bail.
  • Chadema was barred from participating in the elections after Tanzania's electoral commission said the party had failed to sign a mandatory code of conduct.
  • Police have used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowds, resulting in over 100 reported dead and dozens injured.
  • Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have warned of growing violence against demonstrators.
  • Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as the first female president of Tanzania in March 2021, following the death of President John Magufuli.
  • The protests have been met with a 6 p.m. curfew in Dar es Salaam, the nation's largest city, and a total internet shutdown.

Statistics:

  • Over 100 reported dead in the protests
  • Dozens injured and hospitalized
  • 9 regions across Tanzania reported to have witnessed police violence against protesters
  • 52 people believed to have been abducted by Tanzanian authorities in October alone
  • 100+ people abducted or killed or disappeared under mysterious circumstances under President Hassan's rule, according to Maria Sarungi, a Tanzanian rights activist

Sources:

  • Amnesty International (no specific date or publication date mentioned)
  • Human Rights Watch (no specific date or publication date mentioned)
  • The Washington Post (no specific date or publication date mentioned)
  • Institute of Security Studies (no specific date or publication date mentioned)
  • Reuters (no specific date or publication date mentioned)