Tanzania remained under a nationwide communications blackout on Thursday following a day of violent unrest during elections marked by chaos and bloodshed.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, seeking to consolidate her rule in an election widely seen as one-sided, faced widespread protests after voting began. Most opposition figures were either jailed or barred from running, leaving her virtually unchallenged.
Witnesses in Dar es Salaam reported a police station set ablaze, attacks on polling stations, and protesters tearing down presidential posters. A diplomatic source told AFP that over 30 people may have been killed, though the full scale of violence remains unclear due to restricted internet and international communication.
Foreign journalists were largely denied entry, and state media stopped reporting updates early Wednesday. Schools were closed, civil servants ordered to stay home, and gunfire was reportedly heard in parts of the capital.
Rights groups had warned of escalating repression before the vote, citing abductions of activists and critics. Much anger has focused on Hassan’s son, Abdul, accused of leading a secret task force behind a surge in kidnappings.
On Zanzibar, the situation was calmer, though ferries were halted and tourists stranded without access to cash or communication.
Amnesty International called the situation “deeply disturbing” and urged restraint, warning of a high risk of further violence. Hassan, who rose to power in 2021 after President John Magufuli’s death, now faces mounting uncertainty over her leadership.
