UN Expresses Deep Concern Over 700 Deaths in Tanzania Post-Election Protests

Following Tanzania's October 29, 2025 general election, the United Nations has expressed grave concern over deadly violence and repression amid protests against alleged electoral fraud. Reports indicate at least 10 people were killed and many injured as security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators in cities including Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro, while opposition sources claim the death toll may exceed 700. The government imposed a nationwide curfew and an extensive internet blackout, severely restricting communication and access to information, which the UN criticized as undermining public trust and citizens' rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The main opposition party, Chadema, has condemned the crackdown, reporting arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances of opposition leaders and activists, urging for their immediate release and fair legal treatment. The UN has called for an end to disproportionate force, restoration of internet access, impartial investigations into election-related violence, and accountability for those responsible. President Samia Suluhu Hassan's administration faces increased scrutiny for its handling of the unrest, amid concerns that the election was marred by repression and lack of genuine competition.