Opposition Claims Nearly 700 Killed in Tanzania Post-Election Protests
Violence erupted in Tanzania following the presidential election held last Wednesday (October 29th), with the opposition party claiming that nearly 700 people have been killed. Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera reported this information on Friday (October 31st).
John Kitoaka, spokesperson for the Chadema party, stated the shocking casualty figures:
“Approximately 350 people have been killed in Dar es Salaam and more than 200 in Mwanza. If we add the death toll from other areas, the total comes to around 700 people.”
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that a source within the security forces also confirmed a similar number of casualties.
Discrepancy in Casualty Figures
The casualty count claimed by the opposition is significantly higher than the data provided by the United Nations (UN). The UN stated in an update on Friday that “ten people have been killed by security forces so far.”
Election Context and Outcome
The election, held last week in Tanzania, was notable as the two main opposition parties were not permitted to contest. Widespread protests subsequently began in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, starting on Tuesday.
The results of the election have already been released, confirming that the incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been re-elected.
Tanzania gained independence in 1961 and has since been governed by the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which is now seeking to extend its term through this latest election. Samia Suluhu Hassan, a female politician from the CCM party, became President in 2021 following the death in office of the former President, John Magufuli.
