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.
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.
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? 
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! 
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is calling it out too... this is a major human rights crisis 
. But the gov's not giving up power easily 
. Disrupting internet access & imposing a curfew won't solve anything! 
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 
700 lives lost in a country where freedom of speech should be cherished... it's heartbreaking 
. The government might try to silence the opposition, but it's ultimately their voices that can bring about real change 
.
?? 700+ people dead is just insane! I mean I know the election was close but that's no excuse for all this violence & bloodshed 
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 
. Over 700 people are dead? That's just ridiculous! 
. 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 
.
and wish everyone peace and safety. we gotta look out for each other, you know?
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! 
️.
. 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 
. This is just a really sad situation all around 
... just kidding! No party involved here, sadly 
... not exactly something to be proud of.
Either way, not cool, Tanzania.
. 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.
. The opposition demands a transitional government, which I think is a reasonable request, especially after the presidential election was marred by controversy.
. 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 
.
[GIF of a person dancing with the Tanzanian flag] Unity in diversity? 
700+ dead, that's just insane...and now the gov's just gonna tighten grip on power...no thanks 
