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Tanzania protests

Press briefing notes
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

05 December 2025

From
Spokespeople for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Seif Magango
Location
Nairobi

Ahead of planned protests on Tanzania's Independence Day on 9 December, we remind the authorities of their obligation to ensure the rights to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. We urge the Government to instruct security forces to plan and implement their operations in a manner that allows Tanzanians to fully exercise these fundamental rights.

Hundreds of people were reportedly killed and over 2,000 detained by security forces after protests broke out following general elections on 29 October.

The Government has intensified a crackdown against opponents since the vote. On 3 December, police issued a blanket, nationwide ban on all Independence Day protests. We call for the lifting of such an overbroad, disproportionate step.

We remind security forces they must refrain from using force to disperse non-violent assemblies and make every effort to de-escalate tensions. We recall again the requirements of international law in this area -- if unavoidable, any use of force, including less lethal weapons, must be restricted to the minimum extent necessary. Firearms should not be used to disperse any assembly and can only be used as a measure of last resort to counter an imminent threat of death or serious injury.. The commanders of the security forces have a responsibility to take measures ahead of any protests to ensure respect for these principles.

Reports indicate that since mid-November, dozens of individuals including academics, civil society actors and local political leaders have been detained, with several arrests allegedly carried out by unidentified armed personnel.

Security deployments have been increased in urban centres, warnings issued to businesses, restrictions imposed on fuel sales, and surveillance of digital communications expanded. Such measures risk inflaming public tension and significantly undermine the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and participation in public affairs.

Five weeks after the election, the authorities have still not disclosed information on the number of people killed and the circumstances of their deaths, and on reports of enforced disappearances. The continued absence of transparent information risks further eroding public trust and heightening tensions at a critical moment.

We call for the immediate and unconditional release all those arbitrarily detained.

Our Office is aware of the Government's establishment of an investigation into the post-election violence. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk reminds the authorities such a probe must fully adhere to international standards of independence, impartiality, thoroughness, promptness and transparency, and provide robust protection against reprisals, intimidation, or arbitrary detention for all who engage with its work.