In a joint letter, civil society organisations urge Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council to enhance their engagement with the United Republic of Tanzania and take action to prevent further abuses following the authorities’ brutal response to widespread protests after the 29 October 2025 elections.
The organisations highlight the ongoing crackdown on dissenting voices, risks of further violence, and credible reports of hundreds of people killed by police and unidentified security personnel amid government-imposed lockdowns, media restrictions, and internet and electricity shutdowns. They emphasise that the elections, which saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan secure 97.66% of the vote, “fell short” of regional and international standards according to SADC and AU observer missions, and that voters could not freely express their will.
In line with the Council’s prevention mandate, the organisations call for a public briefing by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights followed by a Council debate, and, if needed, a special session to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania.
