Tanzania Government Denies CNN Report on Post-Election Violence
DAR ES SALAAM – The Tanzanian government has publicly challenged a CNN investigation alleging serious post-election violence, marking its first official response since a disputed presidential vote.
The press conference was called by government spokesman Gerson Msigwa following the controversial re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who won with 98% of the vote amid widespread allegations of fraud and opposition-led protests.
Msigwa specifically targeted a recent CNN report that contained claims of police shooting unarmed protesters in Arusha and suggested the existence of possible mass graves near the capital, Dar es Salaam. The international news network supported its investigation with witness interviews, video evidence, and satellite imagery.
Labeling the coverage as “one-sided,” Msigwa expressed regret over the recent unrest, which he linked to the actions of political opponents. He invited foreign media outlets to submit their findings to an independent commission appointed by President Hassan for review.
The government’s denial comes as international scrutiny of the election intensifies. A group of U.S. lawmakers has called for an international investigation into the alleged violence, underscoring persistent tensions over accountability.
In response to the government’s pushback, CNN journalist Larry Madowo defended the report on social media platform X. “Tanzanians risked their lives to speak to CNN for our investigation despite police warning against sharing that content,” Madowo wrote. “We only reported what we carefully verified and nobody has pointed out a single lie.”
The situation remains fluid as the Tanzanian government seeks to control the narrative and international pressure for a transparent inquiry grows.
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