The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed deep concern over the growing number of deaths and injuries linked to the ongoing election protests in Tanzania.
The demonstrations started on Wednesday during the voting process, triggered by anger over the exclusion of the two major opponents challenging President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
According to the main opposition party, nearly 700 people have been killed during protests across the country, although the government insists the situation involves only “isolated incidents.”
Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that the UN has received information from “credible sources” confirming that a minimum of 10 people have died.
“We urge security agents to avoid unnecessary or excessive force, including the use of live bullets, against protesters, and to actively work toward easing tensions,” Magango said, emphasizing that demonstrators must remain peaceful.
Amnesty International has also reported that it received accounts indicating that at least 100 people have been killed.
A night-time curfew that began on Wednesday is still being enforced across Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial hub, and internet access has been significantly disrupted.
Magango called on Tanzanian authorities to respect “their obligations under international human rights law.”
“They must urgently restore full internet access and ensure that citizens can freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association,” he stated.
He warned that blocking communication channels would only weaken public confidence in the election process.
The UN further stressed that anyone who has been “arbitrarily detained must be freed immediately and without conditions.”
These violent post-election demonstrations follow a campaign period already overshadowed by claims of unlawful arrests and the detention of opposition members.
President Hassan has denied accusations of widespread human rights violations.
