In the wake of Tanzania’s turbulent October 29, 2025, general elections, a wave of condemnation, grief, and concern has swept across East Africa and the broader international community. The aftermath of the vote, which saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan declared the winner with a staggering 98 percent of the tally, has been marked by unprecedented violence, widespread repression, and an outpouring of solidarity and alarm from religious leaders, foreign governments, and human rights organizations alike.
On November 13, 2025, U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen issued a sharply worded statement that left little doubt about Washington’s growing unease. According to the bipartisan release from the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Tanzania’s election was “decided well before October 29th.” The senators accused President Hassan’s administration of presiding over “unprecedented levels of violence,” widespread intimidation, and internet shutdowns that crippled communications and left millions of Tanzanians isolated. “In response to these less than credible elections, Tanzanians took to the streets to display their deep frustration and anger,” the statement read. “Unfortunately, instead of heeding calls for reforms and electoral transparency, the Government of Tanzania’s heavy-handed security response resulted in the death of hundreds and the abduction and imprisonment of many more.”
The senators didn’t mince words about the broader implications, warning that “Tanzania’s ruling party has created an environment of fear that challenges the security of the country and neighboring countries.” This concern was not merely theoretical—at least 13 Kenyans were caught up in the chaos, according to Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Two of them, John Ogutu and Albert Kamala (a dual citizen), lost their lives, while three others remained in custody in Arusha and Dar es Salaam as of mid-November. Eight Kenyans arrested during the demonstrations were later released without charge. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International Kenya, VOCAL Africa, and Defenders Coalition, condemned the killings and detentions as grave violations of international law. They also criticized Tanzanian officials for blaming foreigners—particularly Kenyans—for the unrest, warning that such rhetoric puts expatriates at risk.
The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, added his voice to the chorus of concern, demanding a transparent investigation into the killing of hundreds of civilians and protesters. Türk reported credible accounts of bodies being removed from hospitals and streets by security forces, suggesting an attempt to conceal evidence. The UN also called for the release of detained opposition leaders, including Chadema leader Tundu Lissu, and revealed that over 150 people—including minors—had reportedly been arrested, with some facing treason charges.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who inherited the presidency in 2021 after the sudden death of John Magufuli, had initially been praised for easing restrictions on the opposition and media. But, as reported by Free Malaysia Today, the tide turned in 2024, with repression returning “worse than ever” and intensifying in the run-up to the October 29 election. The council of imams in Tanzania issued a statement strongly condemning the killing of innocent people during the elections. Their unofficial election observers found evidence of ballot stuffing and the registration of dead people as voters, declaring it “impossible” to have a legitimate outcome under such conditions. The imams called for dialogue, a new constitution, and the restoration of “justice, peace and human dignity” in the country. Their statement echoed the deepening sense of crisis and the urgent need for reform.
As for the government’s response, President Hassan’s address to parliament on November 14, 2025, marked her first conciliatory gesture since the unrest erupted. She announced that charges against youths and children involved in the protests would be dropped, describing many as having acted out of ignorance or peer pressure. “We strongly condemn the killing of innocent people who were killed during the 2025 general election,” the council of imams said in their statement. The president also promised to set up a commission of inquiry into the deaths—a move welcomed by some but met with skepticism by others, given the government’s reluctance to provide casualty figures or allow independent observers unfettered access to the affected areas.
The scale of the violence remains hotly contested. While the government has yet to release official numbers, the opposition claims that more than 1,000 people were killed during several days of unrest following the election. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested and charged with treason, an offense that carries the death penalty in Tanzania, though President Hassan has indicated there would be leniency. Over 150 people, including minors, are reported to have been arrested, with some facing the gravest of charges.
Amid the chaos, the region’s religious leaders have stepped forward to offer solace and solidarity. On November 12, 2025, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) issued a statement expressing “profound solidarity” with the Tanzania Episcopal Conference and the people of Tanzania. Addressed to TEC President Bishop Wolfgang Pisa, the message from Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde of Zambia acknowledged the “extraordinarily difficult and painful moment” the nation faced. “The recent tragic events following the General Elections on October 29th, 2025, have deeply grieved us all. These events, which triggered days of violent protests and have resulted in the loss of precious lives, numerous injuries, and widespread suffering, have deeply grieved us all,” Bishop Kasonde wrote. He conveyed prayers and support for those affected physically and emotionally by the violence, extending compassion to the bereaved, the injured, and the traumatized alike.
For decades, as noted by the U.S. Senate statement, the relationship between the United States and Tanzania has been built on shared democratic values, global security, economic prosperity, and strategic investment. But, as the senators warned, “Tanzania’s continued pivot from the rule of law, reform, and good governance demands a genuine assessment of the U.S. bilateral relationship with Tanzania.” The events of October and November 2025 have forced a reckoning—not only for Tanzania’s leaders but for the entire region and its international partners.
As the dust settles, the call for dialogue, accountability, and healing grows louder. The imams’ demand for a new constitution and the restoration of justice, echoed by religious and civil society leaders, reflects a broader yearning for a future in which democracy is not just a word but a lived reality. Whether President Hassan’s promised commission of inquiry will deliver the truth and reconciliation so desperately needed remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the eyes of the world—and the hopes of a nation—are fixed on Tanzania’s next move.
