United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned Friday of rising bloodshed in Tanzania after the disputed October 29, 2025, general election, citing reports of deaths and injuries at protests and opposition claims that 700 people were killed. The unrest stems from the disqualification of two top opposition contenders and fraud complaints, while the government denies using excessive force and has not released a death toll. The UN called for investigations and respect for peaceful assembly and expression amid an internet blackout and troop deployments in major cities.
Turmoil spilled across the border as hundreds of protesters entered Namanga in Kenya, blocked roads, and ripped posters of President Samia Suluhu Hassan; Kenyan police fired tear gas and set a curfew in border zones, authorities said. Tanzania extended work-from-home orders for civil servants through Friday and urged people to avoid public places, with streets in Dar es Salaam largely empty after opposition calls for protests. The UN said it stands ready to support talks aimed at easing the crisis, while rights groups report enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions from the pre-election period.
Turmoil spilled across the border as hundreds of protesters entered Namanga in Kenya, blocked roads, and ripped posters of President Samia Suluhu Hassan; Kenyan police fired tear gas and set a curfew in border zones, authorities said. Tanzania extended work-from-home orders for civil servants through Friday and urged people to avoid public places, with streets in Dar es Salaam largely empty after opposition calls for protests. The UN said it stands ready to support talks aimed at easing the crisis, while rights groups report enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions from the pre-election period.
