The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) expressed deep concern over reports of deaths and injuries amid ongoing election-related protests in Tanzania, urging authorities to exercise restraint and uphold human rights standards.
In a statement issued on Friday, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that credible reports indicate at least 10 people have been killed in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro, as security forces used firearms and teargas to disperse demonstrators protesting the outcome of the 29 October general election.
According to the UN, a nationwide curfew has been imposed and internet access has been widely restricted since election day, without any official explanation from the government.
“We are alarmed by the deaths and injuries that have occurred in the ongoing election-related protests in Tanzania,” the UN spokesperson said. “We call on the security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force, including lethal weapons, against protesters, and to make every effort to de-escalate tensions.”
The UN urged Tanzanian authorities to fully respect their obligations under international human rights law, including the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. The statement also called for the immediate restoration of internet access, warning that continued restrictions “will only further undermine public trust in the electoral process.”
The unrest follows an election campaign period marked by allegations of arbitrary arrests, detentions, and enforced disappearances of opposition figures and critics of the government. Among those reportedly targeted are the leaders of the opposition Chadema party and a former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba.
The UN has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arbitrarily detained, and for those held legally to be afforded due process and fair trial rights.
It also urged the government to conduct prompt, impartial, and effective investigations into all incidents of election-related violence and to hold those responsible accountable
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
