HRW warns of serious rights violations amid post-election crackdown in Tanzania

HRW warns of serious rights violations amid post-election crackdown in Tanzania
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the Tanzanian government on Thursday to open an independent investigation into alleged killings, disappearances and repression carried out by security forces after the country’s disputed October 29 election, warning that “serious violations” of rights may amount to international crimes, JURIST reported.

Tensions had been building before the vote. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on treason charges in April, and his party, Chadema, was effectively sidelined from campaigning. Another candidate, Luhaga Mpina, was barred from running. Human rights organizations said that the government used these legal and administrative moves to stifle dissent.

On election day, the government imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, and large-scale protests broke out in Dar es Salaam and other cities. Security forces responded harshly, deploying troops, declaring curfews, and using live ammunition, according to witnesses. Government authorities should refrain from imposing internet shutdowns, disruptions, or blocking access to websites and platforms, including before, during, and after elections, under international law.

The African Commission stated that the internet shutdowns undoubtedly constitute a violation of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees individuals the right to receive information, as well as the right to express and disseminate information. It further reiterates its unwavering commitment under Article 45 of the Charter to promote and protect human rights and stands ready to collaborate with the Government of Tanzania.

Rights groups also say the crackdown was preceded by a year-long pattern of repression. According to an Amnesty International report, there have been “enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary arrests” under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government. After the protests erupted, the military was deployed, and hospitals struggled with bodies and injured civilians.

HRW argues that the scale of alleged abuses, including possible secret disposal of bodies, raises alarming questions about the rule of law in Tanzania. The group says that for any meaningful reconciliation, there must be full transparency, accountability, and justice for victims. Without that, HRW warns, the government risks deepening the crisis and undermining any claim to legitimacy.