A CNN investigation has uncovered alarming evidence of police brutality following Tanzania’s disputed presidential election last month. Videos, audio forensics, and eyewitness accounts show police and armed men shooting at largely unarmed protesters, some carrying only rocks and sticks, in the wake of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s re-election on October 29.
Geolocated footage confirms deadly clashes, including the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman in Arusha. Forensic analysis shows she was shot in the back while fleeing, leaving behind a husband and two children. Another young man was fatally shot at a distance of over 90 meters from police. Witnesses describe chaotic scenes as demonstrators were pursued and fired upon by both uniformed and plainclothes officers.
The crackdown followed a curfew and internet blackout imposed after protesters challenged the exclusion of Hassan’s rivals from the race. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been in custody since April, charged with treason. The president has acknowledged some casualties but has not provided official figures.
CNN’s review of hospital footage in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam shows morgues overflowing with bodies. Doctors treating gunshot victims described seeing bodies “piled” outside hospitals when morgues reached capacity. Human rights groups and witnesses have reported mass graves at Kondo cemetery near Dar es Salaam, with satellite images confirming disturbed soil consistent with recent burials.
The United Nations estimates hundreds of civilians may have been killed, with many more injured or detained. Allegations of extrajudicial killings and disappearances have drawn international concern, casting doubt on Tanzania’s reputation as a stable democracy.
President Hassan has launched a commission to investigate the unrest, while government officials suggested some protesters may have been paid, without providing further details. As Tanzania grapples with the aftermath, the events highlight deep political tensions and the urgent need for accountability.
