The UN Office for Human Rights has confirmed that at least ten people have been killed by security forces during protests in Tanzania, which erupted after this week's general elections. UN spokesperson Seif Magango expressed concern over the violence during the protests, fueled by dissatisfaction over the exclusion of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's main rivals.
The Tanzanian government has downplayed the scale of the tragedies, calling the demonstrations 'isolated incidents' and promising a swift restoration of order. In the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, police have imposed a curfew, and internet access has been restricted. Although there is no official number of casualties, diplomatic sources suggest that there could be dozens of deaths.
President Hassan is now facing criticism for the arrests of opposition members. The elections were marked by allegations of fraud and intimidation, and the main opposition parties were excluded from the competition. The electoral commission announced preliminary results showing that Hassan won significant majorities, but the atmosphere of terror has been condemned by international observers.
Sources