A government-appointed investigation in Tanzania has disclosed that no fewer than 518 individuals lost their lives during violent clashes surrounding the country’s October elections, marking the first time officials have publicly acknowledged the extent of the deadly turmoil.
The investigative panel, however, attributed responsibility for the bloodshed to demonstrators themselves, sparking outrage among opposition leaders who denounced the findings as prejudiced.
United Nations human rights officials had previously estimated that hundreds perished in violence stemming from the barring of prominent opposition candidates from both presidential and parliamentary races. Opposition party leaders have claimed the death toll reached into the thousands.
Tanzanian officials had previously refused to discuss casualty numbers, stating they were waiting for the commission’s findings. President Samia Suluhu Hassan established the panel in November. Government representatives have consistently denied human rights organizations’ accusations that security personnel employed disproportionate force.
During a formal presentation of the findings to Hassan, commission leader Mohamed Chande Othman indicated the death count might actually be higher due to challenges in victim identification. Rather than evaluating law enforcement’s conduct, he suggested establishing a criminal investigation panel to examine particular incidents.
Chande stated the commission possessed “indisputable evidence” that the violence was orchestrated and financed by “trained people” without identifying these individuals.
“Organisers used various techniques, including using people without deep understanding and desperate youth, while encouraging simultaneous acts of violence across different locations,” he said.
Hassan, who was proclaimed the presidential victor with almost 98% of votes, has characterized the demonstrations as an effort to topple her administration and claimed they received international funding, though she has not presented supporting evidence.
The commission’s findings were not released to the public immediately, and their eventual publication remains uncertain. During the presentation ceremony, Hassan declared the report was “the property of the president.”
Tanzania’s primary opposition organization, CHADEMA, dismissed the commission’s investigation, stating in a Thursday announcement that a government facing accusations of conducting violent abuses cannot examine its own actions.
Chande confirmed receiving claims that individuals were shot inside residences and businesses, including near a restaurant in Mwanza, a northern city.
Reuters investigations revealed that police forces killed more than a dozen unarmed young men at the restaurant, located far from any known demonstrations. People who witnessed other events in Mwanza and two additional cities also informed Reuters they observed officers firing at individuals who were not participating in protests.
Government officials stated at the time they took force-related concerns seriously but noted that many accusations were founded on unconfirmed and misrepresented information.
