Tanzania in Turmoil: Youth-Led Protests Erupt Over Disputed Election, Hundreds Reportedly Killed

The country of Tanzania is facing a deepening political and humanitarian crisis as mass protests over its disputed general election enter their third day. Demonstrations erupted after an October 29 vote, widely criticized for alleged electoral malpractices, returned President Samia Suluhu Hassan to office for another term.

Protesters, mostly comprising youths, have taken to the streets in major cities like Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza. They accuse the government of suppressing opposition candidates and manipulating the electoral process. Reports indicate that key opposition figures were prevented from contesting, fuelling public outrage.

Events are rapidly spiraling out of control: according to opposition sources, as many as 700 people may have died in confrontations with security forces; independent diplomatic sources put the toll at at least 500. But a near-total shutdown of the internet nation-wide has greatly hindered the flow of information, and the precise number of casualties is impossible to confirm.

The military has been deployed to quell the unrest, with armored vehicles and troops patrolling protest hotspots such as Salasala, Yombo, and Tegeta. Despite warnings from the army chief, demonstrators continue to defy curfews and restrictions as they push for transparency, justice, and electoral reforms.

International observers have expressed concern over the use of force against civilians and the suppression of digital communication. Human rights organizations are calling for an independent investigation into events and are asking the government to restore access to the internet.

The tensions remain high as the world waits to see if the crisis, that has taken so many lives, will find a peaceful resolution.