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One year after deadly protests following Tanzania’s October 2025 general election, grieving families are still searching for accountability and answers regarding the deaths of their loved ones. A relative in Mwanza, whose nephew was killed during the unrest, stated that an apology and condolences from the government would be a starting point for justice.
A disputed election and deadly crackdown
The violence erupted after a campaign period marked by the exclusion of the main opposition candidate. Tundu Lissu, leader of the Tanzanian Party for Democracy and Progress (Chadema), was arrested and charged with treason in April 2025, while his party was barred from the ballot. During and after the election, demonstrators demanded political reforms and the resignation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
A government-appointed body known as the Chande Commission, led by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, concluded that at least 518 individuals died from unnatural causes, largely from gunshot wounds, while more than 2,000 others sustained injuries. Othman noted that the actual fatality count could be higher due to families burying relatives without visiting morgues or reporting to officials.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) echoed concerns that the real toll exceeds the official figure. Oryem Nyyeko, senior Africa researcher for HRW, stated that the numbers are clearly much higher than what the commission presented.
Investigation into police actions
Deutsche Welle: DW.com – Top Stories reviewed numerous videos, spoke with sources, examined police guidelines, and inspected a leaked police document. While exact locations and dates for all footage could not be verified due to internet blackouts and anonymous sharing motivated by fear of reprisals, the compiled evidence strongly suggests police operated outside standard guidelines and training. Cases reviewed included the killings of non-protesters, protesters dying from head wounds, and individuals being beaten or degraded by uniformed personnel.
Footage repeatedly showed members of the police Field Force Unit, recognized by red berets, riot gear, and heavy weapons. Additionally, the Centre for Information Resilience documented incidents in Dar es Salaam involving uniformed personnel beating civilians with sticks and operating near locations where protesters were shot. In Mwanza, videos captured young men reportedly killed by police uniforms while watching television in a hall, an incident also highlighted by HRW and the Chande Commission.
Calls for accountability
Tanzania’s police rules limit firearm use strictly to absolute necessity, yet investigations revealed gunshot wounds to the head and upper body, alongside non-protesters being shot during a government curfew. Security analyst Nicodemus Minde noted that the Chande Commission left critical questions unanswered, pointing out that it failed to identify responsibility and motives.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan characterized the unrest as an attempt to overthrow the administration. When Deutsche Welle: DW.com – Top Stories approached the Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs for comment on excessive force allegations, the ministry declined, citing potential interference with ongoing legal proceedings. The Tanzanian police did not respond by the time of publication.
Although the Chande Commission recommended further probes, it did not name specific security agencies, officers, or commanders. A second inquiry led by retired Justice Shaban Ally Lila commenced gathering evidence in August 2026, with its findings still awaited.
For relatives like Zuri, whose brother and son perished in the violence, official inquiries have failed to build trust. Questioning the lack of government outreach to affected households, Zuri stated that officials act as though nothing occurred, concluding that there is no justice in the country.
