Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has accused police of disposing of hundreds of bodies of demonstrators killed during a violent crackdown following last week’s disputed elections. The elections, held on October 29, 2025, saw incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan win by a landslide amid widespread reports of irregularities.
Protests erupted across major cities as Tanzanians expressed outrage over the exclusion of opposition candidates, including Chadema leader Tundu Lissu, who was detained on charges of treason. Authorities responded with a nationwide curfew, an internet blackout, and heavy police deployment.
According to Brenda Rupia, Chadema’s director of communications, the party has documented 2,000 deaths, including more than 100 of its own members. Rupia alleged that police dumped over 400 bodies at undisclosed locations to conceal the scale of the violence.
“Most bodies are still at the hospitals, and the police are stopping people from taking them away,” Rupia told CNN. “The police have thrown away over 400 bodies. We don’t even know where they’ve taken them.”
CNN was unable to independently verify the figures, and Tanzanian authorities have dismissed the opposition’s claims as “hugely exaggerated.” However, growing concern has been voiced internationally. The African Union (AU) described the situation as “extremely concerning,” citing “reports of hundreds dead and injured.”
In a joint statement, the foreign ministries of Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom condemned the violence, referencing “credible reports of large numbers of fatalities.”
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was sworn in for a second term on Monday, acknowledged deaths during her inauguration speech but did not provide a toll. Police have since banned sharing of photos and videos that could “cause panic,” even as internet access is gradually being restored.
The AU and rights groups have urged Tanzania to launch an independent investigation into the killings and restore civil freedoms as fears of further unrest mount.
