About 700 killed in Tanzania election protests, opposition says

Tanzanian Election Protests Leave Hundreds Dead, Opposition Demands Transitional Government

Protests that erupted in Tanzania following the country's presidential election have resulted in the deaths of over 700 people, according to opposition party Chadema. The violence broke out on Wednesday as demonstrators took to the streets, frustrated with what they saw as the stifling of opposition and the exclusion of key candidates from the ballot.

As the situation continues to unfold, reports are emerging of widespread human rights abuses by security forces, who have fired live ammunition and teargas at protesters. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed alarm over the deaths and injuries, with at least 10 people confirmed killed by security forces.

Chadema spokesperson John Kitoka claims that hundreds more have been killed since Wednesday, with a total of around 700 confirmed fatalities nationwide. However, Amnesty International puts the number at just over 100, citing reports from across the country.

The opposition party demands that the government "stop killing our protesters" and calls for a transitional government to pave the way for free and fair elections. Kitoka also called on authorities to respect the will of the people, which he sees as electoral justice.

In response to the violence, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to strengthen her grip on power, although the opposition has expressed concerns that her re-election may be illegitimate due to the exclusion of key candidates from the ballot.

The government has imposed a curfew and disrupted internet access in an effort to contain the unrest. However, security forces have struggled to quell the protests, which have spread across the country.

Critics of the government claim that it is using repression and violence to maintain power, rather than engaging with opposition demands for electoral reform. As the situation continues to escalate, international pressure is mounting on the government to respect human rights and allow free and fair elections.

man, this is so sad the gov's reaction is totally out of control they should be working to make things better, not using force against their own people instead of trying to silence everyone, they should listen to what Chadema has to say and maybe even consider some electoral reform it's not like they don't have a track record of corruption, so why fix this now just for the sake of maintaining power?

man... its crazy what happens when ppl get fed up with a system that doesnt listen 2 them think about all those people out there livin in pain & fear cuz they cant express their voices... its a lesson in the power of collective action & the importance of a government bein transparent & accountable. but its also a reminder that even when we fight for what's right, it can get messy & violent its time 4 us to rethink our approach 2 conflict resolution & strive 4 dialogue over dictatorship

700+ dead in Tanzania protests?! That's crazy! According to Chadema, over 70% of the deaths were caused by security forces using live ammo & teargas. Amnesty International is like "nope, not that many"... but we need accurate numbers ASAP! The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is calling it out too... this is a major human rights crisis

The opposition party is demanding a transitional government, which would be awesome if they can actually make it happen . But the gov's not giving up power easily . I mean, who wouldn't want to maintain power when you've got 700+ bodies on your hands? The gov needs to step up its game and listen to the people's demands for free & fair elections

The gov's response is basically just... more violence . Disrupting internet access & imposing a curfew won't solve anything! We need transparency, accountability, and actual change

this is just horrific what's going on in Tanzania right now so many lives lost already and it feels like nobody's listening to the opposition... i mean, i know there are gonna be consequences for these protests but killing people isn't the answer also gotta feel sorry for Samia Suluhu Hassan trying to hold onto power like that when everyone's against her... can't just impose a curfew and internet blackout on an entire country anymore these security forces need to step up their game and respect human rights too

700 lives lost in a country where freedom of speech should be cherished... it's heartbreaking . This whole thing just goes to show how fragile democracy can be . We often forget that true strength lies not in suppressing dissent, but in embracing our differences and listening to opposing views . The government might try to silence the opposition, but it's ultimately their voices that can bring about real change . What if they had engaged with the people's concerns from the start? Might we have seen fewer lives lost today? It's a tough lesson, but one we should all remember: power without empathy is just tyranny .

ugh what's going on in Tanzania ?? 700+ people dead is just insane! I mean I know the election was close but that's no excuse for all this violence & bloodshed . I feel so bad for the protesters who are risking their lives for a chance at democracy & freedom . The fact that security forces are firing live ammunition & teargas on unarmed civilians is just heartbreaking . Can't we just talk things out without resorting to violence? And now the gov's tightening the noose by imposing curfews & internet access... it's like they're trying to suffocate dissent . I'm all for a transitional government that prioritizes free & fair elections but not at the cost of innocent lives . We need more empathy & understanding, less bloodshed & repression

Oh man, Tanzania's election protests have gotten out of hand like a bad TikTok challenge . Over 700 people are dead? That's just ridiculous! Can't they all just get along... or at least let the winner take the cake . I mean, I know electoral reform sounds boring, but it's better than having your head chopped off . The government needs to chill out and respect the opposition . Maybe a transitional gov is the answer ? Who knows, maybe they'll even learn how to use Snapchat without getting their fingers cut off ‍.

man... this is such a sad news 700 people are dead already? it's like we're living in some kind of nightmare. but you know what really gets me down? i saw a lot of people on social media, even friends of friends, just sharing memes that were making fun of the protesters and saying they deserved to get killed . like, come on guys... can't we put our differences aside for one minute and just mourn these innocent lives?

i know the opposition party is frustrated, but isn't it worth trying to work out a peaceful resolution? maybe there's a way to address their concerns without resorting to violence? i'm not saying the government is blameless either... they should've done more to ensure free and fair elections.

anyway... this whole situation just makes me wanna hug my loved ones tight and wish everyone peace and safety. we gotta look out for each other, you know?

What's goin' on in Tanzania?! 700+ people dead already? that's crazy! I'm so worried about the opposition party Chadema and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, they seem like they're doin' everything right. The government should really listen to them and respect the will of the people.

I don't get why the president is just gonna strengthen her grip on power instead of tryin' to find a solution. It's like she's not even care about what the people want. And now the internet's been disrupted, that's just ridiculous! How are they supposed to communicate and express their voices?

It's so sad when violence breaks out and innocent people get hurt. I hope the government can find a way to calm things down soon and have some real elections with free and fair voting. That would be amazing!

OMG THIS IS SO SAD!!! I cant believe hundreds of ppl have lost their lives in protests over election results! The UN is right to be alarm about human rights abuses by security forces, its completely unacceptable! The govnt has a responsibility to keep ppl safe and protect the democratic process. I feel for the opposition party Chadema and all those who are fighting for electoral justice... it's like they're being suffocated by the system . Can't we just have free & fair elections?! It's not too much to ask, right?

I'm still trying to process what's happening in Tanzania . 700+ people dead and the situation is still getting worse. It's hard to believe that security forces are using live ammunition and teargas on protesters, that's just not right . The opposition party has a point when they say that the government is stifling opposition and excluding key candidates from the ballot, it's like they're trying to rig the game ️.

I think the international community needs to step in here and put some pressure on the government to respect human rights and allow for free and fair elections. The fact that the government is imposing a curfew and disrupting internet access just makes things worse . And what's with the president trying to strengthen her grip on power? It's like she's not taking the concerns of the people seriously at all .

I'm also worried about the reports of human rights abuses, it's not okay for security forces to be using that kind of force against protesters . The opposition party has a right to express their dissent and demand electoral reform, and I think they should be heard . This is just a really sad situation all around .

700+ people dead in Tanzania protests? That's like having a party where everyone dies ... just kidding! No party involved here, sadly . I mean, who needs that many people at one protest anyway? It's like they're trying to break some sort of record for most casualties in a single event ... not exactly something to be proud of.

And what's with the government imposing curfew and internet access being disrupted? Sounds like they're trying to hide the truth... or is it just a fancy way of saying "we can't handle the truth, so we'll just turn off your phone"? Either way, not cool, Tanzania.

This news is just heartbreaking... 700+ people dead in Tanzania? It's like a nightmarish scenario that we don't want to wake up from . The fact that security forces are using live ammunition and teargas on protesters is just horrific, and it's unacceptable that they're not being held accountable for their actions.

I mean, what kind of government uses violence to maintain power? It's like they're trying to control the narrative instead of listening to the people . The opposition demands a transitional government, which I think is a reasonable request, especially after the presidential election was marred by controversy.

It's not just about the Tanzanian people; it's also about us as a global community . We need to speak out against these human rights abuses and demand that the government takes responsibility for their actions. It's time for some real change in Tanzania, and I'm keeping an eye on how this situation unfolds .

[Image of a cartoon character getting punched in the face]

[Video of people protesting with signs that say "Stop killing our protesters"]

[Image of a person trying to escape from police with teargas in their eyes]

[Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan looking like the Grinch]

[Image of money bags and a clock ticking] Time for change, or just more of the same?

[Video of people taking selfies with "We are not going anywhere" signs]

[GIF of a person dancing with the Tanzanian flag] Unity in diversity?

this is just sickening, people loosing their lives over politics...can't we all just get along? 700+ dead, that's just insane...and now the gov's just gonna tighten grip on power...no thanks what's next? more deaths? more suffering?

I'm really concerned about what's happening in Tanzania right now... The fact that over 700 people have lost their lives, and many more are injured, is just devastating. It's hard to comprehend how such violence can erupt over a presidential election.

I think the opposition's demands for a transitional government make sense - it would allow them to address some of the underlying issues that led to this unrest in the first place. And I agree with John Kitoka that the people's will should be respected, but that doesn't mean the government has to just sit back and do nothing.

The UN's alarm over human rights abuses by security forces is well-earned... it's unacceptable that we're seeing reports of live ammunition being fired at protesters, and people are getting killed as a result. It's time for the government to take responsibility for its actions and work towards finding a peaceful solution.

This is just devastating news from Tanzania The number of people who have lost their lives already is so heartbreaking 700+ is a huge number... how can this happen in our world today? I think it's so unfair that opposition party candidates were excluded from the ballot, and now they're demanding a transitional government

It's really scary when governments use repression and violence to maintain power rather than listening to their people's demands for change I hope the international community steps in to put pressure on the government to respect human rights and hold free and fair elections soon