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Muslim leaders in Tanzania on Saturday expressed their condemnation of the killings perpetrated by security forces during the contentious general election that took place last month.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the October 29 election with 98 per cent of the votes, following the jailing or disqualification of her main rivals.
Opposition groups have reported that over 1,000 individuals lost their lives amid multiple days of turmoil, and Hassan promised on Friday to establish a commission to investigate the fatalities.
“We strongly denounce the killings of innocent individuals that occurred during the 2025 general election,” the council of imams stated in their announcement.
Hassan assumed the presidency following the sudden passing of the authoritarian leader John Magufuli in 2021 and was initially praised for relaxing restrictions on opposition voices and media outlets.
However, repression intensified significantly in 2024, escalating in the weeks preceding the election.
The conduct of security forces and the overall management of the election have faced extensive domestic and international criticism.
The imams mentioned that their unofficial monitors observed instances of ballot tampering and the registration of deceased individuals as voters, stating it was “impossible” to achieve a legitimate outcome under such circumstances.
They called for open dialogue, the creation of a new constitution, and the reinstatement of “justice, peace, and human dignity” within the East African nation.
Numerous demonstrators have been detained and charged with treason, a crime that carries the death penalty, yet the president has signalled that there may be some leniency.
Hassan’s comments on Friday marked her first conciliatory gesture towards the demonstrators since the unrest occurred. The government has yet to report on the number of casualties.
