Security forces flooded Dar es Salaam on Tuesday to stop planned protests linked to Tanzania election violence. Activists had called for demonstrations to denounce the government’s violent crackdown after the October elections.
The government warned that any protest on Tuesday—Tanzania’s Independence Day—would count as a coup attempt. Officials told citizens to stay home. Police and soldiers patrolled major roads and checked IDs of people moving around the city.
Residents told Reuters the situation stayed calm by late morning. Still, some activists reported small protests in parts of the city on social media. Reuters could not immediately confirm these reports.
The protests respond to the worst Tanzania election violence since independence. President Samia Suluhu Hassan won re-election on October 29 with nearly 98% of the vote. Authorities had barred top opposition candidates from running.
The UN estimates that security forces killed at least 700 people after the polls. The government admits people died but refuses to share an official death toll.
President Hassan formed a commission last month to investigate the violence. She continues to deny that security forces acted wrongly. So far, the commission has not released any findings.
She also promised last year to look into reports of abductions targeting critics before the election. Yet no results have surfaced.
The U.S. announced last week it would review its relationship with Tanzania. Officials cited violence against civilians, limits on free speech, religious freedom concerns, and investment barriers.
Activists say Tanzania must hold security forces accountable for the Tanzania election violence. They argue that ignoring the killings risks normalizing state repression.
Meanwhile, the government insists national stability matters more than outside criticism. Security forces remain on high alert in Dar es Salaam.
No large protests have broken out yet. But the heavy military presence shows how tense the situation remains. How Tanzania handles these unresolved issues will shape its future democracy.
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