The African Union (AU) has issued a damning report on Tanzania’s 2025 General Elections, declaring that the polls failed to meet the democratic standards and principles set by the continental body.
The AU Election Observer Mission (AUEOM), led by former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, reported widespread irregularities, including ballot stuffing, voters receiving multiple ballots, and individuals allowed to vote without proper identification. The mission said such incidents severely compromised the integrity of the electoral process.
According to the report released on November 5, 2025, the elections held on October 29 were marred by inadequate preparedness, violence, and a repressive political environment. “The 2025 Tanzania General Elections did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections,” Masisi stated.
The observer mission deployed 72 officials across 17 regions, covering 176 constituencies. They observed polling activities at 352 stations. While the morning voting sessions were largely calm, later hours were marked by protests, gunfire, and road blockages in cities such as Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Mwanza.
AUEOM also condemned a nationwide internet shutdown that began at 11:00 a.m. on election day, saying it disrupted both citizens’ access to information and observers’ ability to report incidents. The report further criticized state-controlled media for favoring the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, limiting visibility for opposition candidates.
Masisi’s team noted that several opposition figures were arrested or barred from participating in the elections — a move the AU said violated the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).
The AU mission concluded that the lack of transparency, suppression of dissent, and restricted media freedoms rendered the elections unfree and unfair, urging Tanzania to uphold political freedoms and ensure genuine competition in future polls.
