Dar es Salaam – Police in Tanzania’s second largest city, Mwanza, have detained 116 people accused of organising nationwide anti-government demonstrations planned for December 9, the country’s Independence Day.
The arrests, announced on December 6 by Mwanza’s regional police commander, DCP Wilbrod Mutafungwa, mark a significant escalation in the government’s crackdown ahead of the planned protests, which organisers have called for to be “peaceful and non-stop.”
The detentions come amidst a nationwide ban on demonstrations and a series of stern warnings from authorities. The police force issued a public notice on December 3, declaring that no protests would be permitted on December 9 and that anyone attempting to participate would be arrested. This message was amplified through mass SMS alerts sent to citizens.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has personally reinforced this hardline stance, stating in a speech on December 2 that authorities were “prepared” for the demonstrators. “I want to tell them, whenever they come, we are prepared,” she warned.
The gravity of the situation has been underscored by several foreign embassies, which have issued travel alerts to their citizens. The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam warned on December 1 of potential “unrest, nationwide curfews, an internet blackout, cancellation of ferries to Zanzibar, cancellation of international flights, and roadblocks.”
It also noted that security forces have been searching the electronic devices of foreign nationals for politically sensitive content. Similarly, the Israeli and Kenyan missions have urged their citizens to avoid gatherings, stock up on essential supplies, and postpone non-essential travel.
The planned December 9 demonstrations are a direct response to the country’s disputed general election on October 29 and the subsequent violent state crackdown on protesters that, according to UN human rights experts, left hundreds dead and injured.
International pressure is mounting on President Samia’s government to ensure accountability for the violence, which saw security forces use “excessive and lethal force”, against civilians.
Credible reports cited by the UN and human rights groups point to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and attempts to conceal evidence, including the existence of alleged mass graves.
In a significant diplomatic response, the United States has initiated a “comprehensive review” of its bilateral relationship with Tanzania, its single largest development partner. The U.S. State Department cited the “disturbing violence against civilians” and ongoing repression as reasons for the review, which puts billions of dollars in aid and trade at risk.
The Commonwealth has also taken a firm stance, placing Tanzania on the formal agenda of its ministerial action group (CMAG) and appointing a special envoy to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation.
These moves follow widespread condemnation from other international bodies. A coalition of over a dozen civil society organisations has formally urged the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session to address the deteriorating situation, calling for a debate and stronger multilateral action to prevent further abuses.
The European Parliament also passed a resolution condemning the killings and urging targeted sanctions, while a group of 16 Western diplomatic missions issued a joint statement demanding the release of political prisoners and an independent, transparent investigation.
The country’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has rejected a government-appointed commission of inquiry, demanding an independent international probe involving the UN and the International Criminal Court.
President Samia has remained defiant, defending the actions of the security forces and rejecting external pressure, accusing critics of acting like “colonisers.” The government has also refused to release an official death toll from the October 29 unrest.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation said the government has ‘taken note’ of concerns raised by foreign governments and development partners regarding the reported abuses.
According to the ministry, a Commission of Inquiry has been formed to investigate the ‘post-election violence’. The government said the commission’s findings will help provide clarity on the unrest and guide future engagement with stakeholders.
