More than 200 people in Tanzania have been charged with treason following days of unrest sparked by the recent national election.
The protests erupted after the October 29 poll, in which the electoral commission declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner with 98 percent of the vote. The opposition—barred from participating in the election—has dismissed the results as a “sham.”
Violence spread across the country on election day, with opposition members and security sources claiming the number of casualties could be in the hundreds or even thousands. Authorities have yet to release official figures on the dead or injured, a delay worsened by a nationwide internet shutdown that lasted several days after the vote.
The legal proceedings began on Friday, November 7, when hundreds of suspects appeared in court in Dar es Salaam. Lawyer Peter Kibatala confirmed that over 250 people were arraigned across three separate cases.
“They are all charged with two offences,” Kibatala said. “The first is conspiracy to commit treason, and the second is treason itself.” Judicial sources reported at least 240 confirmed cases so far.
The opposition party Chadema claims that at least 800 people were killed during the election violence—an estimate echoed by diplomatic and security sources, who warn the true toll may be even higher.
Tanzanian police announced late Friday that they are also seeking several top opposition figures in connection with the unrest. Police spokesperson David Misime said investigators are searching for 10 individuals and urged them to surrender immediately. Those being sought include Chadema Secretary General John Mnyika, his deputy Amani Golugwa, and party spokesperson Brenda Rupia.
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