DAR ES SALAAM – Tanzania’s presidential election has been plunged into chaos, with widespread protests erupting across the country, prompting the government to deploy the military, impose a curfew in the commercial capital, and restrict internet access in a dramatic response to escalating unrest.
The protests, led by critics of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, were fueled by allegations of systematic opposition suppression, including the harassment of leaders and the narrowing of electoral choices.
The situation turned volatile in Dar es Salaam, where hundreds of protesters in the Kimara and Ubungo neighborhoods set a bus and a gas station ablaze. Unrest was also reported in other parts of the city, including Magomeni, Kinondoni, and Tandale. The turmoil was not confined to the commercial capital; reports indicated that polling stations in districts outside the official capital, Dodoma, were vandalized, with similar incidents occurring in the major cities of Arusha and Mbeya.
In a swift and forceful reaction, the government moved to quell the dissent. Tanzania’s inspector general of police, Camillus Wambura, announced a 6 p.m. curfew in Dar es Salaam. The military was deployed to the streets of Dodoma and the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, with security agencies put on high alert to deal with what they termed “disruptors of peace.”
The political crisis has drawn international attention. The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania issued a security alert, warning of “country-wide” protests and urging caution. The scale of the government’s response was further highlighted by Netblocks, an internet access advocacy group, which reported a significant nationwide disruption to internet connectivity—a move often used to hinder organization and the flow of information.
The current unrest underscores long-standing concerns over Tanzania’s democratic space and human rights record. The electoral environment has been heavily criticized, with the leader of the main opposition party, CHADEMA, Tundu Lissu, currently in prison facing treason charges after calling for electoral reforms. In a further blow to the opposition, the candidate of the second-largest opposition party was barred from running, leaving voters with limited choices and fueling accusations of a pre-determined outcome.
As security forces patrol the streets and the curfew remains in effect, the situation remains tense, casting a long shadow over the electoral process and raising serious questions about the future of political freedom in the nation.
