CNN Investigation Exposes Deadly Police Crackdown on Protesters Following Tanzanian Election
A CNN investigation has uncovered evidence of Tanzanian police shooting unarmed protesters from long distances, following a disputed presidential election that returned President Samia Suluhu Hassan to power.
The election on October 29 was marred by an opposition boycott and the arrest of rival figures, including prominent critic Tundu Lissu. President Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote. The period was also characterized by an internet blackout and a government-imposed curfew.
In the aftermath, protests erupted, led primarily by youth demanding political reforms. CNN’s investigation, using a combination of witness testimony, video evidence, forensic analysis, and satellite imagery, reveals that these demonstrations were met with lethal force. The report details instances where police gunfire hit protesters from distances of up to 112 meters (over 360 feet).
Furthermore, the investigation identified signs of suspected mass graves in areas near the major city of Dar es Salaam, suggesting the death toll may be far higher than officially acknowledged. United Nations estimates place the number of killings during the unrest in the hundreds.
The Tanzanian government has stated it is reviewing the report. In response to the growing international concern, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has launched an official inquiry and acknowledged that there have been casualties.
The findings have intensified calls for an independent, international investigation. As journalist Larry Madowo highlighted on social media platform X, many Tanzanians are demanding external oversight, with numerous families still searching for missing loved ones three weeks after the election.
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