In the wake of Tanzania’s fiercely disputed general election on October 29, 2025, the nation has been thrown into turmoil as courts across Dar es Salaam and beyond have charged at least 240 individuals with treason. The charges, which are among the most severe in Tanzanian law and could carry the death penalty, stem from a week of deadly protests and unrest that followed the announcement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s landslide victory. The government declared Hassan the winner with nearly 98% of the vote, but opposition parties and international observers have denounced the election as neither free nor fair.
The scope and severity of the post-election crackdown have stunned both Tanzanians and the international community. According to court filings cited by Reuters and the BBC, the accused are alleged to have “formed an intention to obstruct the 2025 general election for the purpose of intimidating the Executive of the Republic of Tanzania.” Some, like prominent businesswoman Jenifer Jovin, stand accused of encouraging protesters to buy gas masks to protect themselves from police tear gas. Others include social media influencers and ordinary citizens swept up in the chaos.
The numbers themselves remain contested. While the BBC and Reuters report at least 240 people have been charged, the Associated Press and other sources put the figure at 76, with some court documents suggesting as many as 145. What’s clear, however, is that the legal actions represent the first formal prosecutions linked to the post-election violence, which has left the country reeling from one of its worst political crises in recent memory.
The opposition party Chadema and a coalition of human rights groups allege that more than 1,000 people were killed as security forces tried to quell riots and protests. According to Chadema party secretary Amos Ntobi, “We saw people being shot in broad daylight. There were bodies all over the streets—some people were killed instantly, others left badly wounded,” he told AFP. The government has dismissed these figures as exaggerated, refusing to provide its own death toll. Nevertheless, reports from BBC correspondents and local NGOs describe bodies being collected by vehicles marked "Municipal Burial Services," with families unable to trace the remains of loved ones for repatriation or burial.
The violence has not only shaken Tanzanian society but also sparked diplomatic ripples across the region. Many Kenyans living in Tanzania—estimated at around 250,000—have reportedly been targeted in the crackdown. Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi has called on his Tanzanian counterpart to guarantee the safety and dignity of Kenyans, after reports emerged of killings, injuries, and detentions. John Ogutu, a Kenyan teacher working in Dar es Salaam, was shot dead by police while on his way to buy food, his sister told the BBC. In response, Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry has urged families to share details of relatives in distress, as many Kenyans, particularly those working in private schools, now flee the country.
President Samia, who was initially praised for easing political repression after taking office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, now faces mounting criticism for the government’s heavy-handed response. During her inauguration speech on November 3, 2025, she condemned the violence and pointed a finger at foreigners for allegedly stoking unrest. Yet, observers note that the political space has narrowed significantly under her watch, with key opposition figures like Chadema leader Tundu Lissu either imprisoned or barred from running. Lissu remains in prison on treason charges brought earlier this year, a move widely condemned by rights groups and opposition supporters.
International scrutiny has been unrelenting. The African Union’s election observation mission released a damning assessment, stating the polls "did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections." The AU cited ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and an environment “not conducive to peaceful conduct and acceptance of electoral outcomes.” Amnesty International and the Legal and Human Rights Centre have documented enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and excessive use of force against unarmed demonstrators. A joint statement from seven NGOs condemned "reprisal killings of civilians, some in their own homes," and highlighted the trauma inflicted on families and children.
Religious leaders, too, have stepped into the fray, urging reconciliation rather than retribution. Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania remarked, “The only option for the government to keep at least the relative peace now is … to grieve with the people instead of arresting and taking people to court.” Civil society groups echo these calls, warning that the mass treason charges risk deepening divisions and prolonging unrest.
The economic fallout of the crisis has been immediate and severe. According to NetBlocks’ Cost of Shutdown Tool, Tanzania’s fragile economy lost an estimated $238 million (TSh560 billion) during a week-long internet blackout imposed from October 29 to November 3, 2025. The outage paralyzed digital activity, stymied business, and compounded the sense of national emergency. For many, the blackout was yet another sign of the government’s determination to control the narrative and suppress dissent.
Despite the government’s insistence that the election was free and fair, the reality on the ground appears starkly different. The main opposition candidates, including Tundu Lissu of Chadema and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were barred from running, leaving President Samia facing little real competition. The inauguration ceremony itself was held at a military parade ground in Dodoma, closed to the public and broadcast only on state TV—a far cry from the open, celebratory events of previous years.
The legal proceedings against those charged with treason are set to continue, with the court adjourned until November 19, 2025. Most of the defendants have not yet entered pleas. While the death penalty remains on the books for treason, it is rarely carried out in Tanzania; most sentences are eventually commuted to life imprisonment. Still, the specter of capital punishment hangs over the accused and their families, adding to the climate of fear and uncertainty.
As Tanzania grapples with the aftermath of a contested election, the country stands at a crossroads. The choices its leaders make in the coming weeks—between reconciliation and repression, dialogue and division—will shape the nation’s future and its standing in the eyes of the world.
