Election season in Tanzania has once again followed a troublingly familiar script. Campaign posters went up, ballots were distributed, and then — opposition leaders were arrested, activists disappeared, and fear gripped the streets.
When President Samia Suluhu Hassan took office four years ago, following the sudden death of her predecessor John Magufuli, she was hailed as a symbol of hope and reform — the first woman to lead Tanzania. Her rise was seen as a chance to reopen civic space and rebuild confidence in democratic institutions. But as she seeks reelection this week, those hopes appear to have dimmed.
Her key rivals have been detained or disqualified, and others who dared to criticize the administration have faced abduction and violence. Rights groups and opposition figures have accused the government of orchestrating a systematic clampdown ahead of the polls.
On Wednesday, as voting began, protests erupted across Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city. Demonstrators lit fires, blocked roads, and chanted anti-government slogans. The unrest quickly turned deadly — one civilian and a police officer were killed in clashes, according to Amnesty International.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, urged restraint, warning that “the heavy-handed response risks deepening public anger and undermining confidence in the electoral process.”
By evening, authorities had imposed a 6 p.m. curfew across Dar es Salaam, citing security concerns. Polling stations reported low voter turnout, and uncertainty loomed over whether voting could continue smoothly in other regions.
The violent scenes capped weeks of rising tension. Human rights monitors documented dozens of abductions and disappearances in the lead-up to the election. A prominent opposition leader was charged with treason, while his deputy remains behind bars. In another shocking case, a former ambassador turned critic was dragged from his home by unidentified men, leaving traces of blood at the scene, according to his family.
“These abductions are meant to spread fear — a strategy incumbents across the region use to secure control,” said Roland Ebole, East Africa researcher at Amnesty International. “It should worry everyone who believes in democracy.”
Human Rights Watch also condemned the violence. “What we’re seeing now mirrors patterns from previous Tanzanian elections — but this time, it’s on a larger and more coordinated scale,” said Oryem Nyeko, a senior researcher with the organization.
Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa did not respond to Prime Africa News’ requests for comment.
Tanzania — a nation of nearly 70 million people — has long been viewed as one of East Africa’s most stable democracies and a key ally of both the United States and China. Its ports provide crucial access to mineral-rich neighbors like the Democratic Republic of Congo, while its tourism sector, famed for safaris and pristine beaches, remains a vital source of income.
But beneath its image of calm, economic stagnation and political repression have deepened public frustration. Nearly a quarter of Tanzanians live below the poverty line, and trust in government institutions continues to erode.
As the polls close and tensions simmer, the world watches closely — hoping that Tanzania’s once-vaunted reputation for stability does not slip further into the shadows of repression.
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