Widespread protests have erupted across major cities in Tanzania following Wednesday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which opposition supporters have condemned as fraudulent. Demonstrations have intensified in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza, and other urban centres, with anger mounting over what many describe as a “sham election.”
Tensions escalated when hundreds of demonstrators crossed into Kenya through the Namanga border, barricading roads, lighting bonfires, and tearing down posters of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Kenyan police reported that two people died after fleeing running battles with Tanzanian security forces. Authorities in Kenya have since warned citizens against joining the border protests, which have paralysed local businesses.
The unrest follows the disqualification of a prominent opposition figure and the jailing of another, moves that critics say were aimed at ensuring President Samia’s victory. The National Electoral Commission began releasing results on Thursday, showing Samia with nearly 95% of the vote in Mbeya Province and leading in several other constituencies, including Zanzibar.
European Union lawmakers have denounced the elections as a “fraud that has been unfolding for months,” accusing Tanzanian authorities of suppressing dissent and violating democratic principles. Polling day was marked by violent clashes between police and opposition supporters, resulting in numerous injuries and arrests.
Tanzanian military chief General Jacob Mkunda blamed the unrest on “bad characters who wish ill for this country,” saying that the violence had caused “damage to property and people.”
Gunfire was reported in Mwanza, while Dodoma and Dar es Salaam remain under tight security, with major roads blocked and heavy police presence. As tensions continue to rise, regional leaders are calling for calm and dialogue to prevent further bloodshed and restore stability in the region.
