Tanzanian authorities have arrested Amani Golugwa, the deputy secretary general of the main opposition party Chadema, as part of a wider crackdown after deadly post‑election protests last week. Police say they are seeking nine more people, including other party figures, and are conducting an intensive manhunt for those they say planned and carried out the unrest. Among those named as wanted are Chadema’s secretary general John Mnyika and head of communications Brenda Rupia.
Chadema and several human rights organisations allege that security forces killed more than 1,000 people during demonstrations that followed the vote; the government has called those figures exaggerated and has not released its own casualty numbers. Authorities have charged more than 200 people with treason in connection with the unrest — an offence that can carry the death penalty, although Tanzania has not carried out executions since 1995.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the election winner with 98% of the vote. The result drew sharp criticism from the opposition, which was largely barred from participating, and from election observers who described the process as undemocratic and reported instances of ballot‑stuffing. The exclusion of prominent opposition figures, including Chadema leader Tundu Lissu — who was charged with treason in April and prevented from running — helped spark the protests.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, say authorities carried out enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings in the run‑up to and during the vote. Amnesty also reported internet shutdowns and the excessive use of force as the government sought to suppress post‑election demonstrations, which took place in several cities on 29 October.
The crackdown has targeted activists and business figures, with reports of arrests of people perceived to be linked to the unrest, including a prominent businesswoman accused of encouraging protesters to buy gas masks. President Samia has acknowledged that people died during the disturbances but blamed foreign actors for fomenting them, saying some of those arrested were from other countries.
Despite the unrest, Samia was sworn in on Monday at a televised ceremony held at a military parade ground that was closed to the public. She first became Tanzania’s president in 2021 after the death in office of John Magufuli. While she was initially praised for easing political repression, critics say her government has since tightened controls and overseen a renewed clampdown on dissent.
