Dar es Salaam – On November 20, 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially launched the Commission of Inquiry she had formed to investigate the events of October 29, 2025, including youth-led protests and security forces’ crackdown, that left hundreds dead.
The following is the speech President Samia made during the launching ceremony, which took place at Chamwino’s State House, in the capital Dodoma:
The formation of this commission is in line with our law, the Commissions of Inquiry Act of 2023, Chapter 32, which gives me the authority to form various commissions to conduct investigations on various matters within our country.
Now, regarding this event that occurred, I thought that before we are presented with external commissions, we should have our own domestic commission, let it do the work, and when the external ones arrive, they will come to speak with their counterpart commission that had already commenced the work.
In short, what happened was unexpected to occur within our country because of our history of safety and political stability within the nation. Even if there were periods when we did not have political safety [as a country], the [situation] never reached this extent.
Therefore, this commission will be entrusted with files for their work; they will be given the terms of reference to look into while they carry out their work. But, in brief, perhaps I should say the following.
First, I think we expect the commission to look into the actual cause that led to that calamity, what is the actual cause, what is the root of the problem?
However, when that incident occurred, youths were brought onto the streets to demand rights. We want to know: what rights have these young people been deprived of, and in their unity, they took to the streets to demand those rights. What is the purpose of those young people entering the streets? What rights are they demanding so that we can work on it and they get their right?
But another thing, as we do this work, let us go and look at the statements of the opposition parties, those who were saying, “Lazima kiwake,” “Hapakaliki,” “She must leave,” “It must be this,” “The election will not take place.” What exactly led them to do that?
But in doing so, let us look at the relationship between that party and our election commission. How was their relationship during that period until it led them to utter those words?
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But another thing, let us look at the contribution, apart from the political parties that entered into that conflict, of our NGOs, both local and foreign. We are told that those young people who took to the streets to demand rights were first paid money before they went to the streets, and many of them went to the streets in response to that money they were given.
Well, where did the money come from? Where did it originate? Therefore, let us look into this. Local and foreign NGOs, what have they contributed to these matters?
But let me say, even if there were challenges between the [National Independent Electoral] Commission and political parties, the Registrar [of Political Parties] and political parties, the government and political parties, was there not a better alternative way?
Was the only way that one, of taking to the streets, burning the country, tarnishing the country, causing deaths to citizens? Was there no other way to rectify those shortcomings? Let us also go and look into that.
But, let us now look, the incident happened, people took to the streets, those riots, and what was being chanted was that just like it was in Madagascar, it will be here too.
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Now, let us look at the methods that were taken to deal with that riot, themselves, and that is why here we have a retired military officer, a retired police officer, another retiree, so let us go and look at how the methods taken were.
Then, in doing this work, along with other terms of reference that you will be given, I have just provided those pointers here, but in doing this work, we will arrange the time. But as the CS [Chief Secretary] said that he is ready to enable the commission with resources and time. When you meet with him, he will explain properly.
We will also provide you with a secretariat that will be helping you with writing, and all other organisational matters that will be required to be done so that the commission can do its work well.
As you know, when I opened Parliament, I promised – when I launched the campaign – I promised that within 100 days I would form a Reconciliation Commission to look at the causes of political challenges within our country, so we can reconcile, and proceed well.
But, due to this incident that occurred, we have decided to form this commission first, let it do its work, finish, the recommendations that will come out of here are what we will go and work on in that reconciliation commission. Therefore, your recommendations will set the agenda for the Reconciliation Commission.
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As I said, this work is not small; we will start with a period, I think, of three months, and then we will look at how the work progresses. But let me say that I have great confidence in this commission.
Yesterday [November 19, 2025] I was reading a certain article, [and I saw] our opposition counterparts saying they have no faith in any domestic commission; they want a commission to come from [the United Nations] UN, a commission to come from [the African Union] AU, a European Union [EU] commission, that they should come and do the work here in our country.
But I have a lot of faith, with your expertise and experience, I have a lot of faith in this commission, and it is my hope that your recommendations will deliver us [from where we are], and move us forward.
Now, after saying that, let me just say that I have officially launched this commission, and I wish you well in your work.
Thank you very much!
