Around 700 Allegedly Killed in Tanzania Poll Unrest, Opposition Declares

According to the main opposition group, about 700 individuals have allegedly perished during 72 hours of voting clashes in Tanzania.

Unrest Starts on Polling Day

Protests started on election day over what demonstrators labeled the suppression of the opposition after the exclusion of major candidates from the presidential ballot.

Death Numbers Reported

A rival representative announced that hundreds of people had been slain since the protests started.

"At present, the number of deaths in the port city is nearly 350 and for another city it is over 200. Including figures from other places around the nation, the total number is approximately 700," the spokesperson stated.

The spokesperson mentioned that the death count could be significantly greater because killings could be occurring during a evening restriction that was enforced from election day.

Further Accounts

• An official insider supposedly claimed there had been accounts of more than 500 dead, "maybe 700-800 in the nationwide."
• Amnesty International said it had received data that no fewer than 100 people had been slain.
• The opposition stated their estimates had been collected by a team of party members going to medical facilities and health centers and "tallying the deceased."

Calls for Change

Rival officials urged the administration to "stop targeting our protesters" and demanded a transitional administration to enable just and transparent votes.

"Stop police brutality. Honor the choice of the public which is fair elections," the official said.

Authorities Reaction

Authorities reacted by imposing a restriction. Online restrictions were also observed, with international monitors indicating it was across the nation.

On Thursday, the army chief condemned the unrest and referred to the demonstrators "criminals". The official stated law enforcement would try to manage the unrest.

Global Reaction

The UN human rights office stated it was "alarmed" by the fatalities and harm in the protests, adding it had received accounts that no fewer than 10 individuals had been slain by security forces.

The organization stated it had received credible information of fatalities in the port city, in Shinyanga and Morogoro, with officials firing gunfire and chemical irritants to disperse protesters.

Expert Perspective

An human rights lawyer remarked it was "unjustified" for authorities to employ violence, adding that the nation's president "must refrain from using the law enforcement against the public."

"She should listen to the citizens. The feeling of the country is that there was an unfair process … We are unable to vote for one candidate," the advocate stated.