Tanzania 2025 Election Violence: No Accountability One Year Later

• One year after Tanzania's 2025 elections, no arrests have been made for widespread human rights violations, including hundreds of killings and enforced disappearances.
• The government intensified repression before the elections, and prominent opposition figures like Tundu Lissu and John Pambalu face treason charges, which carry the death penalty.
• Despite two presidential commissions of inquiry, accountability for security force abuses remains unaddressed, and the first commission failed to scrutinize their role.
• Humphrey Polepole, a former ambassador and government critic, disappeared weeks before the elections, and his whereabouts are still unknown.
• Families of those killed or missing continue to await justice amidst an ongoing crackdown on government critics.

One year following the widespread violence surrounding Tanzania's 2025 elections, the families of those killed or disappeared are still desperately seeking answers and justice.

A full year has passed since Tanzania's contentious 2025 elections, yet no individuals have been apprehended or charged for the extensive human rights violations that occurred both before and during the voting period. In the months preceding the elections, the government significantly escalated its suppression of political opposition figures, critical voices, and independent media outlets. This period was also marked by a series of apparent enforced disappearances, for which authorities have provided no explanation.

Among those who vanished was Humphrey Polepole, a former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba, whose disappearance was reported merely weeks before the elections. Polepole had openly criticized the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, stating it was not upholding human rights, peace, or respect for its citizens. His current whereabouts remain unknown, a stark reminder of the unresolved cases. On election day itself and in the days that followed, police and individuals operating in plain clothes were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of protesters and bystanders. These fatalities occurred amidst widespread demonstrations and during the enforcement of a five-day national lockdown.

The aftermath saw over 2,000 individuals taken into custody, facing accusations of destroying government property and committing treason. While some of these detainees were subsequently released, others, as documented by Human Rights Watch, reported being subjected to police beatings and false accusations of participating in the protests. Many families continue to grapple with the unknown fate of their loved ones, with some reporting that they buried relatives without a body, underscoring the profound lack of closure and justice.

The legal landscape in Tanzania continues to be fraught with challenges for government critics, particularly with the ongoing use of severe charges like treason, which carries the ultimate penalty of death. This year, the treason trial of Tundu Lissu, who leads the main opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), has proceeded, with a judgment expected on November 6, 2026. Further illustrating this trend, John Pambalu, another CHADEMA official, was charged with treason on October 21. The accusation against Pambalu alleges that he intended to incite the public to obstruct the elections through protests.

In an effort to address the violence, President Samia Suluhu Hassan established a commission of inquiry in November 2025. This initial commission concluded that at least 518 people had been killed during the unrest. However, it notably failed to adequately scrutinize the involvement and actions of the security forces. Subsequently, the President initiated a second commission, reportedly tasked with investigating the planning of the disturbances and the use of excessive and unlawful force during the elections.

Despite the establishment of these investigative bodies, significant questions persist regarding their effectiveness. It remains unclear whether the mandate of the second commission will extend to investigating and ensuring the prosecution of those responsible for abuses committed by security forces. Concurrently, authorities have intensified their crackdown on individuals critical of the government in recent months, suggesting a continued pattern of political repression rather than a shift towards accountability.

One year following the widespread violence surrounding Tanzania's 2025 elections, the families of those killed or disappeared are still desperately seeking answers and justice. The lack of arrests and prosecutions for documented human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, highlights a profound deficit in accountability within the nation's legal system. This ongoing situation underscores the severe human rights violations Tanzania experienced.

The government's continued targeting of opposition figures and critics, exemplified by the ongoing treason trials and new charges, further exacerbates the climate of fear and repression. The ambiguity surrounding the scope and independence of presidential commissions of inquiry, particularly their ability to hold security forces accountable, casts a long shadow over prospects for genuine redress.

For true reconciliation and adherence to the rule of law, President Hassan's administration must cease its campaign against critics. Instead, it should prioritize credible and transparent investigations into the disappearances and abuses perpetrated by security forces, ensuring that all those responsible are brought to justice. This shift is crucial for addressing the deep-seated issues of Tanzania human rights violations 2025 and fostering a more just society.

Lawyers advising clients in Tanzania should be aware of the heightened political risk, particularly concerning freedom of expression and association, and the potential for arbitrary arrests or politically motivated charges like treason, which carries severe penalties. Compliance officers must conduct thorough human rights due diligence for operations or investments in the region, given the documented lack of accountability for past state-sponsored violence and enforced disappearances.

Source: Original reporting via Human Rights Watch