Violent protests have erupted in Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam, as the country's president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, is poised to secure a second term in office. Protests broke out on Wednesday during an election that has been marked by controversy and authoritarianism. Internet service was disrupted across the country, with reports of widespread disruptions corroborated by NetBlocks.
The opposition parties have faced severe restrictions, with Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo being disqualified from participating in the election. The ruling party's machinery has effectively been used to maintain its grip on power for decades. Analysts predict voter apathy, unrest over stifled opposition voices, and further entrenchment of Hassan's administration.
Deus Valentine, chief executive of the Center for Strategic Litigation, warned that Tanzania is "either entering a completely new paradigm or level of impunity, or we are entering a completely new level of civil defiance. Something is going to give." Humphrey Polepole, a former CCM insider who was abducted by unknown individuals, has become the latest victim of the government's crackdown on dissent.
Tanzania's opposition has been under siege since Hassan took office in 2021, following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. The election process has been marred by reports of enforced disappearances, with over 200 cases recorded since 2019. UN experts called for immediate action to stop enforced disappearances and other human rights abuses.
Hassan's campaign promises focus on economic growth, healthcare, education, and inclusive development. However, observers argue that the lack of competitive opposition means she faces little challenge in maintaining power. The opposition lacks resources and name recognition, while CCM's decades-long grip on power has benefited from its extensive party machinery.
The opposition parties have faced severe restrictions, with Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo being disqualified from participating in the election. The ruling party's machinery has effectively been used to maintain its grip on power for decades. Analysts predict voter apathy, unrest over stifled opposition voices, and further entrenchment of Hassan's administration.
Deus Valentine, chief executive of the Center for Strategic Litigation, warned that Tanzania is "either entering a completely new paradigm or level of impunity, or we are entering a completely new level of civil defiance. Something is going to give." Humphrey Polepole, a former CCM insider who was abducted by unknown individuals, has become the latest victim of the government's crackdown on dissent.
Tanzania's opposition has been under siege since Hassan took office in 2021, following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. The election process has been marred by reports of enforced disappearances, with over 200 cases recorded since 2019. UN experts called for immediate action to stop enforced disappearances and other human rights abuses.
Hassan's campaign promises focus on economic growth, healthcare, education, and inclusive development. However, observers argue that the lack of competitive opposition means she faces little challenge in maintaining power. The opposition lacks resources and name recognition, while CCM's decades-long grip on power has benefited from its extensive party machinery.
I mean, can't the opposition even get a fair shot? They're basically being shut down by the system, and now we see protests erupting. It's like, how many times do you have to push people to the limit before they snap?
. It's crazy how one person can control everything for so long. I mean, I get that stability is important, but at what cost? The opposition parties are basically non-existent now... it's like they're being suffocated by the government. And those disappearances... 200+ cases? That's just insane 
. I'm keeping an eye on this situation, hoping things don't escalate further 
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. And now internet service is disrupted across the country, which is just ridiculous 
. It feels like the government is using every trick in the book to maintain control. The human rights abuses are getting worse by the day, with cases of enforced disappearances piling up 
Hope someone can find a way to level the playing field so democracy can actually flourish 
I'm low-key worried about what's gonna go down in Dar es Salaam right now 
. This election feels like a total farce to me, with the opposition parties basically shut out of the game 
. It's crazy how Tanzania has been under authoritarian rule for so long - I feel like it's only a matter of time before things get really ugly 
. I mean, who knows what kind of concessions the president might make to quell the unrest? And is it even worth it? The CCM party has been coasting on fumes for years, relying on their party machinery to keep them in power 
. Can't a president just have a peaceful transition without all the violence and internet disruptions? 
It's like they're intentionally trying to stifle free speech and dissent 
. I mean, even if they didn't have a great track record in the past, it's still their right to run 
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? The fact that the ruling party has been able to maintain its grip on power for decades is super concerning 
. I'm so tired of seeing countries like Tanzania where human rights are constantly being trampled on 
. They lack resources and name recognition, which makes it hard for them to compete with a party that's been in power for so long 
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. The government's crackdown on dissent is getting out of hand and it's only a matter of time before things escalate into full-blown chaos. I mean, the opposition parties are already severely restricted and it's like they're being suffocated by the ruling party's machinery 
. And it's just so frustrating because you can see all this potential being wasted due to a lack of competitive opposition