Over 700 Killed In Tanzania Post-Election Protests

Over 700 Killed In Tanzania Post-Election Protests
Government imposed curfew, internet blackout, and restricted foreign media coverage.
Nigerian influencer Priscilla Ojo denied reports that her husband’s store was burnt.

At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in three days of violent protests across Tanzania following the country’s disputed presidential election results.

The unrest began on Wednesday after the announcement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s victory under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. The opposition condemned the election as fraudulent, alleging the disqualification and detention of key opposition figures before the polls.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to AFP, Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, claimed that security forces used lethal force to disperse protesters nationwide. The party’s spokesperson, John Kitoka, said on Friday that hundreds of civilians were killed between Wednesday and Friday.

“As we speak, the overall figure for deaths is around 700,” Kitoka said. “The figure for deaths in Dar es Salaam is around 350 and for Mwanza it is 200-plus, with others recorded in different regions.”

The Tanzanian government has since imposed a nationwide curfew, shut down internet access, and banned foreign journalists from reporting on the crisis, further limiting the flow of information from affected areas.

Eyewitnesses report widespread chaos in major cities, with shops looted, vehicles burned, and security forces clashing with demonstrators demanding a rerun of the election.

Meanwhile, reports linking Nigerian influencer Priscilla Ojo and her husband, Tanzanian singer Juma Jux, to the unrest have drawn social media attention.

Viral posts claimed that Juma Jux’s luxury fashion store, reportedly valued at over $780 million, was destroyed by protesters. However, Priscilla Ojo debunked the claims via Snapchat, explaining that while some goods were stolen during the chaos, the store building itself was not razed by fire.

Over 700 Killed In Tanzania Post-Election Protests

The Tanzanian government is yet to officially confirm the reported death toll, but international observers and human rights organisations have expressed deep concern over the scale of violence and the government’s clampdown on the media.