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Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday ordered a new inquiry into the violence that marred last year’s general election, after an earlier government-appointed commission documented more than 500 deaths but stopped short of naming those responsible.
Hassan announced the formation of a six-member panel tasked with identifying the instigators, participants and financiers of the unrest that erupted during and after the October 2025 ballot.
“This commission will conduct a deeper investigation to determine who instigated the violence, who participated in it and who financed the events that occurred in our country,” the president said at State House in Dar es Salaam.
The panel includes judges from Uganda and Namibia, a move Hassan said would strengthen the investigation’s credibility and provide a regional perspective.
“We decided to involve our colleagues so that we can obtain a broader perspective… We therefore invited one judge from the East African region and another from the Southern African Development Community,” she said.
The initial inquiry, which delivered its findings in April, recorded at least 518 fatalities during the election period but declined to assign blame, instead recommending a criminal investigation to identify the main perpetrators and propose accountability measures.
Hassan gave the new commission five months to complete its work, with a possible extension if needed, and appealed to Tanzanians to cooperate without interference.
“I recognise the magnitude of this task but the commission has initially been given five months to complete its work and submit its report.
“If more time is required, we will consider extending the deadline,” she said.
The October 2025 election saw Hassan declared the winner with 98 percent of the vote, a result that drew international scrutiny and opposition allegations of widespread irregularities.
Hassan, who took office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, had initially signalled a shift toward more inclusive governance but faced mounting criticism over the handling of the election.
