People protest in the streets of Arusha, Tanzania, on election day on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. AP/str
As reported by CNN channel
The Tanzanian opposition party Chadema released troubling data on deaths and secret burials of demonstrators following the disputed elections. According to the party, around 2,000 people have died, and more than 400 bodies were allegedly buried without the consent of relatives.
The data were released on November 6, when Chadema itself disclosed the information.
Protests in the East African country began on October 29 and have continued after the vote. Protesters stood against the victory of incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan after the exclusion of the main rivals. The authorities responded by imposing a curfew, disconnecting the internet, and deploying security forces.
Chadema’s Communications Director Brenda Rupia said that roughly 2,000 deaths had been recorded, of which more than 100 were party members. She also stressed that police were not allowing relatives to take the bodies of the dead from hospitals.
“The police dumped more than 400 bodies. We don’t even know where they took them,”
Context and reaction
The opposition’s claimed data have not been independently verified, but authorities did not respond to requests. The Tanzanian government spokesperson declined to comment on the information, and earlier the government had disputed its exaggeration.
Meanwhile, President Hassan took the oath of office for a second term. In her speech, she acknowledged that people died during the protests, but she did not provide specific numbers. The African Union, Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom expressed concern over reports of large losses.
Chadema was not allowed to participate in the elections; its leader Tundu Lissu was detained on treason charges after the government accused him of planning to disrupt the vote.
The situation in Tanzania remains tense: official data and leaks from various sources call for a transparent investigation, and distrust between the government and the opposition is growing, deepening the societal divide.
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