The allegations were released Friday in Nairobi by members of the “Jumuiya Ni Yetu” (The Community is Ours) movement, who say the violence erupted after Tanzania’s highly contested October 29 general election. President Suluhu was declared the winner with 97.66% of the vote amid widespread accusations of fraud, voter suppression, and an extensive internet shutdown.
According to the coalition, victims of the crackdown include protesters, bystanders, medical personnel, and minors. The report alleges that thousands of others remain missing.
“As of November 7, at least 3,000 people have been killed by Tanzanian security forces,” the groups said in a joint statement. “Given the blackout, intimidation, and deliberate concealment of evidence, the true number may be far higher.”
Allegations of Mass Graves and Evidence Destruction
The organizations say they have compiled photos and videos—available to journalists—that purportedly show mass graves being dug in several locations, particularly the Mabwepande area near Dar es Salaam.
They further claim that hospitals have been placed under tight security, with police and intelligence personnel confiscating phones, blocking access to morgues, and deleting footage. Medical workers were allegedly ordered to harm critically injured patients.
The report also accuses a relative of President Suluhu of importing military-grade weapons used during the crackdown, saying the arms were not authorized for ordinary policing.
Calls for Accountability and International Action
The coalition is demanding:
• President Suluhu’s resignation
• Prosecution of senior security and government officials
• Establishment of a transitional authority
• An independent international fact-finding mission
• Emergency intervention by the African Union and SADC
• Deployment of monitoring teams to investigate abuses
• Accountability for the state-run communications regulator’s role in the blackout
If verified, the reported death toll would make the unrest among the most violent political crises in East Africa in recent decades.
Government Yet to Respond
Tanzanian authorities have not publicly reacted to the new allegations. In the past, officials have dismissed similar reports as “fabrications” intended to destabilize the country.
International organizations, including the United Nations and rights groups, previously confirmed some deaths and arrests following the disputed election, but none have corroborated the scale outlined in the new report.