Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has alleged that more than 2,000 people were killed and over 5,000 injured during a week of violent unrest following the disputed October 29 election.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared winner with 98% of the vote, but opposition leaders say the polls were marred by rigging, abductions and coordinated attacks on critics.
Chadema’s deputy chairperson, John Heche, told reporters that the violence amounted to “crimes against humanity,” calling for international sanctions and travel bans on officials linked to the alleged abuses.
The government has not released a casualty figure, while previous opposition estimates had put the death toll above 1,000.
In a livestreamed address, Heche urged global actors to hold Tanzanian authorities accountable and protect families of victims.
President Hassan has defended the security crackdown, insisting it was necessary to prevent attempts to topple her administration.
The claims come amid heightened global scrutiny of democratic backsliding in the region, with human rights groups urging independent investigations into the deadly post-election violence.
