DAR ES SALAAM — Amnesty International has accused Tanzania's authorities of weaponising counterterrorism laws to silence critics and instil fear, one year after security forces killed hundreds of people and injured thousands in a crackdown on protests that followed the October 2025 general election.

Source: Amnesty International

“Not a single official has been criminally investigated, let alone prosecuted and punished for the excessive force that Tanzanian security forces used against protesters. In fact, the situation has only deteriorated since the crackdown began. In a classic tactic pulled out of the authoritarian playbook, the authorities are increasingly weaponizing counterterrorism laws to silence critics and instill fear,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty's regional director for East and Southern Africa.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared elected with 98 percent of the vote in the poll, a result the opposition dismissed as a mockery of democracy after her two main challengers were excluded. The main opposition Chadema party's leader, Tundu Lissu, was put on trial for treason ahead of the vote and could not stand; a verdict in his case is due next week. The BBC reported that a commission of inquiry recorded 518 deaths in the violence — but its report, handed to President Samia in April 2026, has never been made public.

Terrorism charges against students, a lecturer and party members

Amnesty said it had verified charge sheets for people arrested and charged with terrorism in different parts of the country. On 9 July 2026, police spokesman David Misime announced 130 arrests over alleged meetings and messages said to encourage criminal acts aimed at destabilising the country; 57 of those arrested were charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, an offence for which bail is not available. They include four Chadema student members arrested in Mbeya on 4 July and charged under the Act on 23 July, and University of Dodoma lecturer Melkisedek Kaijage, whose sedition allegation was changed to terrorism before the charges were eventually dropped.

The group also documented abductions and enforced disappearances. Chadema youth leader Ibrahim Myovella has been missing since 18 April, after he and two friends reported to a police station in Iringa under bail conditions; the authorities deny ever holding them. Mashaka Nestory Kindikwa, a former official of the ruling CCM party, was abducted from his home on 25 June, and police have denied holding him. Tanzanian authorities did not respond to Amnesty's request for comment.

Families still waiting for answers and medical help

Families of those killed told the BBC they want justice and financial help. Mwajuma Hamisi, 32, said her husband George Kisivani was shot in the northern city of Arusha on 29 October 2025, the day of the vote, and died two days later; she now sells vegetables at a market to support their five children. Meshack Sane, 33, who was shot in the leg in Arusha, said he had undergone more than five major operations and could no longer afford the further surgery he needs: “We can no longer afford to pay hospital bills.” The BBC said it had not independently verified his account of his dealings with officials.

President Samia has repeatedly alleged that the post-election protests were funded by foreign actors in a bid to overthrow the government. In August 2026 she inaugurated a second commission of inquiry, tasked with identifying who planned and funded the violence and with investigating the excessive use of force. Amnesty demanded that the new commission examine the security forces' role and publish its findings immediately, that the first inquiry report be released, and that all terrorism charges against people detained solely for exercising their rights be dropped.