Mwanza – Police here have moved to reassure the public following the circulation of a video showing a masked man announcing the formation of a rebel group, a development that has heightened tensions in a region already grappling with the aftermath of a violent state crackdown on post-election protests.
In the video, the masked man declares the formation of a rebel group he dubbed Tanzania Freedom Fighters (TFF) to “defend the citizens of Tanzania.” He cites the violent events of October 29, 2025, as the primary motivation.
“Remembering the murder of our brothers that occurred on October 29, 2025, we have failed to get sleep and have been overwhelmed by great stress,” says the man. “This situation has become a chronic wound in our nation and within the hearts of Tanzanians.”
He goes on to accuse the police of acting to protect the ruling CCM party, alleging that “police have been abducting people, raping our sisters, sodomizing people and killing citizens without any valid reason.” Police have denied any involvement in the events.
In a public statement dated February 4, 2026, the Mwanza regional police command acknowledged the video and sought to quell rising anxiety, insisting that the security situation in the lakeside city remains “calm and stable.”
READ MORE: Police in Mwanza Arrest 116 Ahead of Independence Day Protests
The police urged residents to dismiss the video as “misinformation” and to cooperate with authorities by reporting any suspicious activities.
The statement comes in the wake of the contentious October 29, 2025, general election, which coincided with widespread protests against alleged systematic political exclusion and a deteriorating security situation, including a surge in enforced disappearances.
The controversial election and its aftermath saw security forces accused of using excessive and lethal force to quell demonstrations, with United Nations human rights experts reporting that hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured.
The protests were fuelled by public anger over what many see as a shrinking democratic space and a failure by the government to address pressing security concerns, including the alarming rise in enforced disappearances.
Hundreds of people, including opposition members, activists, and critics of the government, have vanished without a trace in what UN experts have described as a “systematic campaign of repression.”
READ MORE: Mwanza: Family in Agony as Fate of Two Abducted Brothers Remains Unknown Since September 20
The video of the masked man, who has not been officially identified, is not the first of its kind to emerge in Tanzania. In October 2025, a video by an individual calling himself “Captain Tesha” circulated on social media, urging the army to overthrow the government.
The Tanzanian army subsequently issued a statement warning against attempts to involve the military in political affairs.
The government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan has faced mounting international pressure over its handling of the post-election crisis. A commission she formed to investigate the real source behind the events continues to meet with different stakeholders before it submits its findings to the Head of State.
However, some people, including the main opposition parties CHADEMA and ACT Wazalendo, have refused to recognise the commission, claiming it lacks independence. They have also refused to appear before it, saying they don’t believe the effort will bear any meaningful result.
