Tanzanian authorities have actually stopped working to hold anybody liable for the violence security forces caused on protesters, which left numerous individuals dead and countless others hurt in the wake of the 2025 basic election, Amnesty International stated on the very first anniversary of the crackdown.
Rather of providing justice and responsibility, authorities have actually kept a Commission of Inquiry report from the general public and magnified attacks on civic area through the abuse of counterterrorism laws.
Not a single authorities has actually been criminally examined, not to mention prosecuted and penalized for the extreme force that Tanzanian security forces utilized versus protesters. The scenario has just shabby given that the crackdown started. In a timeless method took out of the authoritarian playbook, the authorities are progressively weaponizing counterterrorism laws to silence critics and instil worry,”Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
The company has actually recorded how, over the previous year, security firms have actually dedicated human rights infractions with impunity versus federal government critics, opposition advocates, media companies, and dissenting members of the ruling celebration. These consist of acts that might total up to abuse or other ill-treatment, approximate arrests, enforced disappearances, kidnappings, and serious limitations of flexibility of expression and serene assembly.
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“Not a single official has been criminally investigated, let alone prosecuted and punished for the excessive force that Tanzanian security forces used against protesters. In fact, the situation has only deteriorated since the crackdown began. In a classic tactic pulled out of the authoritarian playbook, the authorities are increasingly weaponizing counterterrorism laws to silence critics and instil fear,” stated Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
The Commission of Inquiry report into the 2025 election-related killings was handed over to President Samia Suluhu in April 2026, it has yet to be made public. She has actually consistently declared that the post-election demonstrations were moneyed by foreign stars in a quote to topple the federal government.
In August 2026, President Suluhu inaugurated another Commission of Inquiry to determine those who prepared, moneyed, collaborated, or carried out the violence, in addition to examine the extreme usage of force and the location of missing out on individuals.
“President Suluhu’s continued refusal to release the Commission of Inquiry report not only entrenches a culture of secrecy, but it also perpetuates impunity,” stated Tigere Chagutah.
“It is imperative that this new commission comprehensively address the role of security forces in the election-related crackdown. Its investigations must be thorough, independent, impartial, and transparent. On concluding its mandate, it must ensure its findings are made public immediately.”
President Suluhu’s ongoing rejection to launch the Commission of Inquiry report not just entrenches a culture of secrecy, however it likewise perpetuates impunity.Tigere Chagutah
In between 3 and 17 September 2026, Amnesty International spoke with 17 individuals, consisting of victims of approximate arrests, enforced disappearances and kidnappings, in addition to reporters, opposition authorities, legal representatives, and good friends and family members of the victims of the October 2025 election-related crackdown. Amnesty International likewise validated charge sheets for those arbitrarily detained and charged with terrorism in various parts of the nation.
Tanzanian authorities did not react to Amnesty’s ask for remark.
Kidnappings, enforced disappearances and abuse or other ill-treatment
Amnesty International recorded various cases of people being abducted by thought state gatekeeper, held incommunicado, and later on charged in court. A few of them stay missing.
Amongst them is Ibrahim Myovella, a youth leader from the opposition celebration CHADEMA. He went missing out on together with 2 good friends on 18 April 2026, after reporting to Central Iringa police headquarters according to their bail conditions following accusations of participation in the October 2025 demonstrations. The authorities reject ever holding them.
Missing out on is Mashaka Nestory Kindikwa, 37, a previous authorities of the judgment Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) who was abducted from his home and led away blindfolded by 7 males thought to be security officers on 25 June 2026. The authorities have actually rejected holding him.
On 20 May 2026, David Djumbe, individual assistant to opposition leader Tundu Lissu, was abducted near his Dar es Salaam home by individuals thought to be state gatekeeper and subjected to extreme poundings which might total up to abuse or other ill-treatment. He got away. Cops rejected participation and stated they had actually opened an examination, however there has actually been no upgrade on development or findings.
Stefano Patrick *, 26, who revealed assistance for demonstrations on Saba Day, a nationwide public vacation celebrating the turning point in Tanzania’s battle for self-reliance, was arbitrarily detained on 24 July in Dar es Salaam, and apprehended for 47 days without being charged in court. He informed Amnesty International that throughout his detention, he was tortured and beaten, while likewise rejected food and water.
He stated his interrogators required to understand who was moneying the demonstrations: “I was blindfolded … however I might hear some individuals sobbing in the next space. Some officers concerned me and stated, ‘Can you hear how your good friends are weeping, if you do not comply, we will eliminate you,’.
“On the very first day, they didn’t offer me food. When I requested for water, they urinated on my blindfolded face and stated ‘that is the rate for those of you opening your mouths to make sounds’.
I was blindfolded … however I might hear some individuals weeping in the next space. Some officers concerned me and stated, ‘Can you hear how your pals are weeping, if you do not work together, we will eliminate you.Stefano Patrick *
“On the second day, I was taken to Gogoni police station where they beat your legs until they get numb but then insist that you must stand. I saw another person’s legs broken at the police station. Even though I was in trouble, I felt pity for what other people were going through”
Abuse of counterterrorism laws to target critics
Amnesty International recorded the regular abuse of counterterrorism laws to target opposition advocates and federal government critics. On 9 July 2026, cops spokesperson David Misime stated 130 individuals had actually been apprehended for presumably arranging conferences and preparing and distributing messages that motivated criminal acts targeted at destabilizing the nation. Of these, a minimum of 64 were charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, an unbailable offense.
In April 2026, Pendo Jonas Kileo went missing out on. For 2 months, the household of the CHADEMA member from Temeke, did not understand of her location. On 27 July, they found out that together with another CHADEMA member, Kileo had actually been charged in Temeke District Court with conspiracy to devote terrorist serve as well as taking part in terrorist conferences in between September 2025 and July 2026.
On 4 July 2026, authorities arbitrarily apprehended college student and CHADEMA student-body members Noah Mwalwange, Gwamaka Mboka, Augustino Wasinyo and Rojas Mpani. They were held at Mbeya Central Police Station up until 23 July, when they were charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. A source knowledgeable about their case stated they were rejected access to attorneys, beaten with batons throughout interrogation, removed, and required to tape confessions and name CHADEMA leaders as their investors.
By turning to terrorism-related charges versus its viewed critics, the Tanzanian federal government is sending out a cooling message that it will not stop at anything in its effort to quelch any and all dissenting opinions.Tigere Chagutah
On 8 July 2026, Melkisedek Kaijage, a government speaker at the University of Dodoma, was apprehended on accusations of prompting individuals to take part in Saba demonstrations. He was apprehended for 17 days on claims of taking part in sedition, before the charges were later on altered to terrorism. These were ultimately dropped and he was launched on 10 September however needs to report to the authorities in Dodoma on a monthly basis for a year.
In Iringa, 3 CHADEMA members were detained ahead of the July 2026 Saba demonstrations. Throughout their three-week detention, they stated authorities informed them to sign a pre-written declaration before getting bail. Rather of being bailed, they were brought to justice and charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
“By resorting to terrorism-related charges against its perceived critics, the Tanzanian government is sending a chilling message that it won’t stop at anything in its effort to repress any and all dissenting opinions,” stated Tigere Chagutah.
“The authorities must end the abuse of counterterrorism laws to stifle freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. They must immediately and unconditionally drop all terrorism charges against those unjustly detained and end harassment of individuals solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.”
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Over the in 2015, authorities have actually embraced many techniques to narrow civic area.
They have limited access to social networks websites, such as Club House and X, and released great deals of security forces to frighten protesters ahead of prepared presentations on 9 December 2025 and 7 July 2026. On 26 June 2026, the home affairs minister prohibited political rallies and mass events, even more suppressing liberty of expression and serene assembly.
In February 2026, the Chief Justice released an order disallowing attorneys from speaking with the media on cases before the court, breaching the rights of attorneys representing their customers, in addition to the rights of the media to look for, get and share info.
Media flexibility has actually likewise come under increasing and baseless pressure.
On 2 April 2026, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) suspended the online-broadcast licence of Jambo Online Television for 90 days, over material TCRA called unproven and deceptive worrying the Commission of Inquiry into the October 2025 general-election discontent. Jambo Television’s licence was renewed and the station went back to air on 3 July 2026, after the 90-day suspension lapsed.
On 19 August 2026, the Information Services Department suspended Mwanahalisi paper’s publishing and circulation licence for 6 months, over a report that Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi had actually declined calls to resign.
“The authorities must revoke the suspension of Mwanahalisi newspaper, restore access to banned social media platforms, and end censorship of online content. They must also ensure that media outlets are free to operate independently, and that journalists can carry out their legitimate work without fear of reprisals,” stated Tigere Chagutah.
To find out more or to set up an interview, please contact Amnesty International’s press workplace:
