Ofure Akhigbe
Tanzanian protesters took to the streets again on Friday, 31 October 2025, for a third consecutive day, defying warnings from the country’s army chief to end the unrest following Wednesday’s disputed election.
Demonstrations have erupted in major cities, with mostly young protesters denouncing the vote as unfair after key opposition figures were barred from contesting against President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who first took office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
An internet shutdown remains in place, complicating efforts to verify reports of deaths and injuries. Authorities have also extended a nationwide curfew in an attempt to quell the demonstrations.
The United Nations has urged Tanzanian security forces to refrain from using “unnecessary or disproportionate force.”
“We are alarmed by the deaths and injuries that have occurred in the ongoing election-related protests in Tanzania,” said UN human rights spokesperson Seif Magango, citing credible reports that at least 10 people have been killed.
Amnesty International’s Kenya office told the BBC it had been unable to confirm casualty figures due to the communications blackout. Hospitals have reportedly refused to release information to journalists and rights groups.
The government has sought to play down the scale of the violence, while the electoral commission has announced results from about 80 of the country’s 100 regions, according to the state broadcaster, TBC. President Samia, representing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, is expected to secure victory. Official results are expected on Saturday.
Tanzania’s chief Muslim cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Zubeir bin Ally, has urged Muslims to observe Friday prayers at home amid fears of escalating violence.
On Thursday, Army Chief Gen Jacob John Mkunda warned protesters to vacate the streets, saying the military would work with other security agencies to restore order.
“Some people went to the streets on 29 October and committed criminal acts. These are criminals and the criminal acts should be stopped immediately,” he said on state television, insisting the army had “controlled the situation.”
Despite the warning, protesters again took to the streets of Dar es Salaam on Friday, 31 October.
In Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous archipelago that elects its own government, CCM’s Hussein Mwinyi was declared winner with nearly 80% of the vote. The opposition has rejected the results, alleging “massive fraud.”
Tourists on the islands have reportedly been stranded at airports due to flight delays linked to the unrest.
Opposition supporters accuse the government of undermining democracy after Tundu Lissu, the main opposition leader, was jailed on treason charges, which he denies. Another leading contender, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was disqualified over what officials described as legal technicalities.
Only sixteen minor parties — none with significant popular support — were cleared to contest the elections.
President Samia, Tanzania’s first female head of state, was initially praised for easing political repression after taking office in 2021, but critics say her administration has since tightened control, using arrests and alleged abductions to silence dissent.
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has alleged that about 700 people have been killed in violent clashes with security forces following this week’s presidential election. The party’s spokesperson, John Kitoka, issued the claim on Friday, stating that health workers and party sources had recorded deaths across several parts of the country since protests erupted on Wednesday. He insisted that demonstrations would continue until the opposition’s demands for electoral reform are met.
CHADEMA was excluded from the ballot after refusing to sign the electoral code of conduct, a standoff that followed the April arrest of its candidate on treason charges. The dispute fueled anger among supporters, who took to the streets after two leading challengers to President Samia Suluhu Hassan were disqualified from the race. Witnesses reported security forces using tear gas and live ammunition to break up demonstrations.
Dar es Salaam, the nation’s commercial capital, has been under nightly curfew for two days as protesters set government offices and other buildings ablaze. Internet disruptions have been reported nationwide since Wednesday, affecting communication and media coverage. On Friday, heavily armed soldiers and police mounted roadblocks across the city, allowing movement only for essential workers and individuals with valid reasons. Civil servants have been instructed to work from home until further notice.
The United Nations has confirmed receiving credible reports of at least ten fatalities in three cities, marking the first public casualty estimate from an international institution. Tanzanian authorities have not released official figures, and in its first public response to the crisis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incidents as isolated breaches of public order, noting that security measures have been increased.
The unrest marks a crucial test for President Hassan, who initially gained praise after assuming office in 2021 for easing political restrictions and engaging opposition groups. However, she has recently faced growing criticism over the arrest and alleged abduction of opponents. The president has denied presiding over widespread abuses and previously announced an investigation into kidnapping reports, although findings have not been made public.
Preliminary results released by the electoral commission on Thursday suggest Hassan is leading by a significant margin across several constituencies, intensifying tensions as voters await final confirmation.