Tanzania is currently engulfed in a grave crisis marked by disturbing reports of mass killings, with overflowing morgues and hidden graves emerging in the aftermath of the October 29, 2025, presidential election. A CNN investigation, coupled with eyewitness testimonies, satellite imagery, and forensic analyses, has revealed a starkly different casualty count than that officially acknowledged, provoking widespread international alarm.
Unveiling the Crisis: Overflowing Morgues and Mass Graves
Following Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s controversial election victory—reportedly with a 98% margin—multiple sources have documented unprecedented violence. Key morgues in Dar es Salaam are overwhelmed, filled with scores of bodies, while satellite imagery highlights recently disturbed soil at Kondo Cemetery, consistent with mass grave reports. Human rights organizations and local witnesses suggest these graves contain the bodies of protesters killed during a brutal crackdown by security forces intent on obscuring the true death toll.
Survivors recount harrowing events: live ammunition fired at close range, door-to-door raids targeting young men, and the sudden disappearance of numerous individuals in the immediate hours after the election announcement. Notably, in Arusha, police fatally shot two unarmed protesters, including a pregnant woman, amplifying concerns about the use of disproportionate force.
Election Controversy and Violent Suppression
The election itself was marred by severe restrictions on opposition participation, curtailed rallies, and internet blackouts. Opposition leaders faced disqualification, and irregularities cast doubt on the democratic legitimacy of the poll. Following the incumbent’s declared victory, protests erupted in multiple urban centers including Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, and Zanzibar, swiftly met with violent government repression.
CNN’s forensic examination of multiple protest videos confirms high-velocity rounds were fired directly into crowds, suggesting deliberate lethal force rather than crowd control measures. The United Nations human rights office estimates hundreds of deaths, but local activist groups warn the actual numbers may be significantly higher due to unresolved disappearances and mass clandestine burials.
Growing Domestic and International Outcry
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has called the evidence “confirmation of deliberate killings by state security forces,” demanding the resignation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation for crimes against humanity. Amnesty International has condemned the escalating repression, highlighting a pattern where dissent—particularly from journalists, civil society, and opposition members—is being systematically stifled.
Tanzanian activists express deepening fear and anger. Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a prominent dissident and former asylum seeker, warns that the situation risks descending into widespread unrest and violence. She predicts isolated retaliatory incidents against regime figures as frustration compounds, threatening national stability and economic viability. Tsehai emphasizes that without robust international intervention to pressure the current government, Tanzania could rapidly slide toward becoming a failed state.
Global Responses and Regional Security Concerns
Washington and Brussels have responded firmly to the turmoil. The U.S. Senate’s bipartisan condemnation highlights the fraudulent nature of the election and the deadly crackdown. Meanwhile, the European Parliament has blocked a major development aid package scheduled for Tanzania, citing deteriorating respect for democracy and human rights.
Former Botswana President Ian Khama has been particularly outspoken, condemning the election as illegitimate and calling out regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for their lack of decisive action. The unrest in Tanzania threatens to spill over its borders, raising fears of it evolving into a broader regional security dilemma.
The Road Ahead: Resistance and Hope
Despite the repression, Tanzanian civil society remains resilient. Coordinated protests planned for early December signal a growing determination to confront authoritarian rule and demand accountability. Activists reject divisive tactics aimed at fracturing national unity and emphasize the collective resolve to restore human rights and democratic norms.
While the Tanzanian government has yet to publicly respond to the mounting allegations, the emerging picture is one of a nation at a crossroads—facing profound challenges to its governance, social cohesion, and international standing. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining whether Tanzania can navigate this crisis without further descent into violence and chaos.
This unfolding tragedy in Tanzania highlights urgent human rights concerns that demand sustained global attention and action, as the people seek justice and a path toward genuine democracy.
