About 700 killed in Tanzania election protests, opposition says

At least 700 Tanzanians have lost their lives in three days of violent protests following the country's presidential election, which saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan secure her grip on power. The opposition party Chadema claims that its supporters were brutally silenced by security forces, with many killed in clashes between protesters and police.

Protests broke out on Wednesday after Chadema's top officials were barred from participating in the election. Chadema's vice-chair, Tundu Lissu, was arrested months earlier on treason charges, while another key opposition leader, Luhaga Mpina, was also disqualified from running.

Since then, crowds of protesters have attacked police stations and businesses linked to the ruling party, leading to a nationwide curfew and internet shutdown. The government has responded with force, condemning the violence as "criminal" and vowing to restore order.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is alarmed by the scale of violence, which it claims has left at least 10 people dead. Security forces have been accused of using live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protesters, sparking widespread condemnation from human rights groups.

Chadema's chairman, John Kitoka, has demanded that the government "stop killing our protesters" and calls for a transitional government to pave the way for free and fair elections. The opposition party claims that its figures are more accurate than those provided by security sources, which put the death toll at over 500 nationwide.

As night-time curfews continue to be enforced across Tanzania, fears remain that more lives will be lost in the coming days. Human rights lawyers say it is "unjustified" for security agencies to use force against protesters and urge President Hassan to listen to her people. With tensions still simmering across the country, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the demands of opposition parties seeking change.

what's up with these protests in Tanzania? 700+ deaths is insane lol, like they're trying to break some kinda record ... Chadema claiming their people were silenced by security forces and all that, but honestly who knows what really went down? it's always easy for the opposition party to point fingers when things don't go their way. I mean, if they were as popular as they claim to be, wouldn't the government just listen to them? or is it all about power and control?

this is just getting out of hand . 700+ people losing their lives in protests? that's just unacceptable . the government needs to step up and listen to its people, but instead it's responding with force . we need to see more accountability here . the opposition party has some valid concerns about the election process and i'm not surprised they're getting frustrated . but at what cost? we need a transition plan in place ASAP to ensure free and fair elections, not just for the sake of democracy, but for the sake of human lives .

This is a total disaster , the Tanzanian government's response has been brutal ! The fact that they're calling the protests "criminal" and using live ammunition against unarmed civilians is just unacceptable . It's clear that President Hassan is more concerned with maintaining power than ensuring her citizens' rights.

Chadema's claims of their supporters being silenced and many killed are way too credible to be ignored . I think the UN's 10-dead toll is definitely an underestimate, considering the opposition party's numbers. The government needs to step back and let a transitional government take over, not just for the sake of free elections but also to show that they care about their people's lives .

This whole situation stinks of authoritarianism , and I'm calling on President Hassan to listen to her people and respect human rights. The internet shutdown is also super problematic . We need transparency and accountability here. This could be a teachable moment for the government to show they're willing to adapt and change, but so far, it's all about maintaining control .

omg this is so sad ... Tanzania is in such trouble rn... 700 lives lost already? that's like a whole city ... and its all because of these election protests ... i dont think the gov is doin enough to stop the violence ... its not just about the people who died, but also those who were arrested or injured during the protests... and now they're saying it's "criminal"?? like, whats next? stopping us from speaking out against injustice? ... this is what happens when you silence opposition voices ... i hope the UN and other human rights groups keep putting pressure on the gov to do something about this

omg this is getting outta hand like what's next? 2000+ dead already and they're still using live ammo & tear gas on unarmed ppl?! security forces are literally killing people in the streets just cuz they're protesting for their rights can't believe the gov't is condemning the violence but not taking responsibility for it president hassan needs to listen to her ppl, stop being so hardline and talk to Chadema already this is getting ridiculous, where's the UN going to draw the line here?

My heart goes out to all those innocent Tanzanians who lost their lives in these protests . It's so sad that things escalated into violence . The gov't needs to take a step back & listen to the people , not just the opposition party . Can't we all just get along? Free & fair elections are everyone's right , but not if it means harming innocent lives . This is getting out of hand . Something needs to change ASAP !

I'm really disappointed in what's happening in Tanzania right now... 700+ lives lost is just insane! It's like, we're living in a different world where peaceful protests can lead to such brutality. The government needs to take responsibility for their actions and work towards finding a solution that includes the opposition party.

I'm also thinking about how this could've been avoided if there was more dialogue and less violence from both sides. It's just human lives we're talking about here... can't we find a way to resolve our differences without losing so many people?

my heart goes out to those families who have lost loved ones its just so senseless that lives are being lost over a disagreement on politics i feel like the government should be trying to find a way to address the concerns of the opposition party instead of using force the fact that internet is still shut down makes it even harder for people to express themselves and get their voices heard

My god , Tanzania is going through such a tough time . I'm so sad for all those innocent lives lost in these protests . It's crazy that 700+ people have died already, and it's not even over yet . The way security forces are responding to the protesters is just horrific . Using live ammunition and tear gas on unarmed civilians? That's just wrong .

I'm also really worried about the opposition party Chadema's claim that their supporters were silenced by security forces . How can you trust a government when they're using such violent means to quell protests? It's not about restoring order; it's about listening to people's demands and being transparent.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is right to be alarmed , and I hope President Hassan takes their words seriously . The opposition party has some legit concerns, and a transitional government might be just what Tanzania needs to move forward . Fingers crossed that things start to calm down soon .

Man oh man this Tanzania situation is getting out of hand... 700 lives lost is just insane and its not like they were protesting for nothing either Chadema's people have been silenced by security forces, it's just not right . The government needs to step up their game and find a way to address the concerns of the opposition party without resorting to force especially with internet shutdowns, that's just ridiculous . President Hassan needs to listen to her people, get them heard and try to find some kind of middle ground its not too late to make things right in Tanzania

This is so sad what's happening in Tanzania . I can imagine being part of a protest movement and feeling like you're fighting for your rights. It's crazy that security forces are using force against peaceful protesters . The opposition party's claims of over 700 deaths seem legit, but it's hard to say when info is conflicting . What's going on in the country is so unjust . The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is right to sound the alarm . I hope President Hassan takes a closer look at what her people are saying and makes some real changes . We should all be supporting peaceful protests and human rights, not violence . Tanzania deserves better .

this is really sad... at least 700 people died in protests, that's crazy. i feel for the families of those who lost their lives . the fact that security forces used live ammo and tear gas is just horrific . it's not surprising that human rights groups are outraged by the government's response . president hassan needs to listen to her people, it's not too much to ask for free and fair elections, right? . how can security agencies justify using force against protesters when they're just trying to express their opinions? . the UN is right to be alarmed by this situation . we need to see some change happen in Tanzania ASAP .

This is getting really out of hand in Tanzania 700+ deaths is just crazy . Can't believe Chadema's supporters were basically told to shut up and their leaders arrested. The government needs to take a good hard look at what they're doing here and listen to the opposition (no matter how much they disagree). The live ammo and tear gas being used by security forces is absolutely unacceptable . Can't we just talk this out peacefully?

I'm really worried about what's going on in Tanzania . 700 people lost their lives is insane, and I don't trust the numbers from the government at all. It sounds like they're trying to cover up what's really happening. The fact that security forces are using live ammo and tear gas to disperse protesters is just horrific . And now the internet is down, which means people can't even report on what's going on or demand change. It's like they're silencing the whole country. I'm all for protests and standing up for your rights, but not when it turns violent . Can we really say that President Hassan is a true leader if she's just going to crack down on her own people? And what about those who were arrested months ago, like Tundu Lissu? Is he even safe now ? I just don't know how this situation is going to end...

OMG what's goin on in Tanzania?! I was just thinkin about how elections are supposed to bring people together, not lead to all this violence Like, how many more lives gotta get lost? At least 700 already? That's crazy! And the gov is sayin it's "criminal" violence? Come on, can't they see the protesters are just tryin to express themselves and have their voices heard? I mean, Chadema's got a point too, disqualifying key opposition leaders and arrestin someone months ago... that's some shady stuff The UN is callin out the gov for human rights abuses, but what about all these innocent protesters who got caught up in it all?

I'm literally shaking my head ... like, I get why Chadema is upset, but at the same time, isn't it kinda their fault for inciting violence against the govt? I mean, if they wanted a fair and free election, maybe they should've participated in a peaceful protest instead of rioting with sticks and stones . But on the other hand, security forces have no right to just shoot protesters willy-nilly , that's some seriously messed up stuff. Can't we all just chill out for one sec? I don't know what's more disturbing - the death toll or the fact that Chadema is blaming everyone else for their own party's mess .