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A court in Tanzania has charged over 100 people with treason following violent post-election protests.
The unrest occurred after President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the October 29 poll with 98% of the vote, an election the opposition denounced as a “sham.”
The treason charges accuse the defendants of trying to obstruct the election and intimidate the executive by damaging government property.
Lawyers for the accused noted that many were beaten and denied medical treatment, and since treason is a non-bailable offence, they will remain in detention.
Rights organisations, including the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), have issued strong condemnations regarding the official response to the protests.
The LHRC reported the use of “excessive force against unarmed demonstrators” and cited incidents of “reprisal killings of civilians,” noting that some victims were targeted inside their private residences.
The death toll remains officially unconfirmed, as authorities have consistently refused to release any official casualty figures.
However, opposition parties and diplomatic sources estimate the fatalities range from hundreds to thousands. Specific reports confirm the deaths of several children, including one nine-year-old, who were either shot or beaten during the violence.
The LHRC explicitly warned that the full extent of the human rights abuses is yet to be uncovered. They cite a six-day government-imposed internet shutdown and severe media restrictions implemented during and after the poll, which effectively prevented independent monitoring and documentation of the events.
