Human Rights Watch has urged the Tanzanian government to initiate an independent investigation into alleged killings and disappearances by security forces following a disputed election. The organization warned that the serious violations could constitute crimes. Tensions escalated after the government imposed a nationwide internet blackout on election day, which the African Commission stated violates the right to receive information. Security forces reportedly responded to large-scale protests with a harsh crackdown, including the use of live ammunition.
The reported abuses occurred within a broader context of pre-election repression. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu faced treason charges, and his party was sidelined, while another candidate was barred from running. Human rights groups documented a pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings under President Samia Suluhu Hassan's administration. Following the protests, military deployment was reported, and hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties.
Human Rights Watch contends that the scale of the alleged abuses, including the potential secret disposal of bodies, raises profound concerns about the rule of law. The group insists that full transparency and accountability are essential for any meaningful reconciliation, warning that a failure to act risks deepening the national crisis and undermining governmental legitimacy.
The reported abuses occurred within a broader context of pre-election repression. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu faced treason charges, and his party was sidelined, while another candidate was barred from running. Human rights groups documented a pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings under President Samia Suluhu Hassan's administration. Following the protests, military deployment was reported, and hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties.
Human Rights Watch contends that the scale of the alleged abuses, including the potential secret disposal of bodies, raises profound concerns about the rule of law. The group insists that full transparency and accountability are essential for any meaningful reconciliation, warning that a failure to act risks deepening the national crisis and undermining governmental legitimacy.
