One Year On, Families Seek Justice After Election Violence

• Tanzania's October 2025 general election was followed by violence that resulted in 518 documented deaths and over 2,000 injuries.
• A government-appointed Chande Commission investigated the events, noting many fatalities were from "unnatural causes" and gunshot wounds.
• Both the commission's chair and Human Rights Watch suggest the actual death toll from the violence could be significantly higher than officially reported.
• Investigations indicate Tanzanian police, particularly the Field Force Unit, likely used excessive force, acting beyond their guidelines and training.
• The violence occurred amidst a disputed election where opposition leader Tundu Lissu and his Chadema party were excluded, leading to protests and ongoing calls for accountability.

The ongoing lack of resolution for the victims' families, coupled with the documented evidence of security force overreach, underscores significant concerns regarding the rule of law and human rights in Tanzania.

One year following the violent events that marred Tanzania's October 2025 general election, families continue to seek clarity and justice for their lost loved ones. A government-initiated inquiry officially documented 518 fatalities, alongside over 2,000 individuals sustaining injuries. Despite this official acknowledgment of widespread harm, the circumstances surrounding these deaths, many attributed to "unnatural causes" and gunshot wounds, remain largely unaddressed, leaving a profound sense of injustice among those affected.

The violence erupted in the wake of a highly contentious election period, which saw significant political unrest and protests across the nation. For many, like a family member in Mwanza whose nephew was killed during these demonstrations, the lack of accountability is deeply felt. She expressed a desire for even a simple apology or condolences from the government, highlighting the emotional toll and the absence of closure for victims' relatives.

The government's response to the post-election turmoil included the establishment of a commission, led by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, widely known as the Chande Commission. This body was tasked with investigating the incidents and ultimately reported 518 deaths and over 2,000 injuries. The commission's findings indicated that many of the fatalities resulted from gunshot wounds, pointing to the severe nature of the clashes.

However, concerns have been raised that the official death toll might not fully capture the extent of the tragedy. Chief Justice Othman himself suggested that the actual number could be higher, noting that some families may have buried their dead without official reporting or taking bodies to morgues. This sentiment was echoed by Human Rights Watch (HRW), with senior Africa researcher Oryem Nyeko asserting that the true figure is "far more than the 518 people" presented in the commission's report, underscoring a potential underestimation of the human cost.

Investigations conducted by DW, involving analysis of numerous videos, interviews with sources, review of police guidelines, and examination of a leaked police report, strongly suggest that security forces employed excessive force during the post-election period. The evidence gathered indicates that police personnel likely operated outside the established scope of their training and official guidelines, which stipulate that firearms should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Specific incidents documented by DW and other organizations reveal a pattern of severe misconduct. This included cases where individuals not participating in protests were killed, protesters sustained fatal head wounds, and uniformed personnel were observed beating or degrading civilians. The specialized Field Force Unit of the police, identifiable by their distinctive red berets and riot-control gear, was frequently observed in the reviewed material.

Further corroboration came from the Centre for Information Resilience, an open-source investigation group, which documented instances in Dar es Salaam of uniformed individuals assaulting civilians with sticks and being present at locations where protesters were shot and killed. In Mwanza, videos depicted young men reportedly killed by police while watching television in a video hall, an incident also highlighted by Human Rights Watch and flagged by the Chande Commission for further inquiry.

The violence unfolded against a backdrop of a deeply contested election, characterized by the exclusion of the primary opposition candidate, Tundu Lissu, leader of the Tanzanian Party for Democracy and Progress (Chadema). Lissu, who was arrested and charged with treason in April 2025, remains jailed and is currently on trial, with a final judgment scheduled for November 6, 2026, and his party was subsequently barred from participating in the electoral process. Following the election, widespread protests erupted, with demonstrators demanding political reforms and calling for the resignation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Despite the government's inquiry and the official acknowledgment of deaths and injuries, a year later, the fundamental demands for accountability and justice remain largely unfulfilled. The ongoing lack of resolution for the victims' families, coupled with the documented evidence of security force overreach, underscores significant concerns regarding the rule of law and human rights in Tanzania. This situation highlights the potential for future domestic or international human rights litigation against the state or individual security forces, and has implications for political risk assessments for clients operating within the country.

This report highlights the ongoing lack of accountability for state-sanctioned violence following the 2025 Tanzanian election, despite a government inquiry. Lawyers should note the potential for future domestic or international human rights litigation against the state or individual security forces, and the implications for rule of law and political risk assessments for clients operating in Tanzania.

Source: Original reporting via DW