ACHPR Press release on the human rights situation in Tanzania

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission) is following with deep concern the human rights situation in the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania) following the general elections of the 29 October 2025.

The Commission is extremely concerned by the reports of widespread turmoil following a series of post-election protests in Tanzania. While it has been reported that the unrest has left hundreds of people dead, and hundreds injured, following clashes with security forces, the nationwide internet shutdown has made it difficult to confirm the actual death toll.

The Commission wishes to underscore that these reports, if accurate, would constitute very grave violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights which the United Republic of Tanzania voluntarily undertook upon ratification on 18 February 1984.

The Commission wishes to buttress the importance of the protection of human rights, during the electoral process, and therefore calls on the Government of Tanzania to ensure that all fundamental rights and freedoms are duly respected during this time. As noted in Resolution 331 on Elections in Africa, the Commission urged States Parties to create conducive conditions to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections, in addition to taking all measures to prevent, investigate and prosecute human rights violations which may occur during the election period, and provide adequate redress to victims. The Commission reiterates this call to the Government of Tanzania.

Similarly, in Resolution 281 on the Right to Peaceful Demonstrations, the Commission expressed its concern with the mass and arbitrary arrests and the continued detention of several people following peaceful demonstrations, in addition to the excessive use of force, live ammunition and tear gas to disperse peaceful demonstrators. The Commission urged States to refrain from conducting arbitrary arrests and detentions of demonstrators and called for their immediate release, in addition to refraining from disproportionate use of force against demonstrators whilst fully complying with international standards on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials and to protect peaceful protestors regardless of their political affiliation. The Commission is urging the Government of Tanzania to abide by the principles in Resolution 281 which enshrine principles of international law.

The Commission condemns the reports of the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania and calls on the Government of Tanzania to prioritise de-escalating the prevailing situation, in addition to ensuring that security forces refrain from using disproportionate force against protestors. Further, the Commission urges the Government to urgently initiate investigations on these reports.

Furthermore, the Commission, once again, calls on the Government of Tanzania to sign and ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which emphasizes the importance of consolidating the political culture of change of power, based on the holding of regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies.

The Commission will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in the United Republic of Tanzania.

Done in Banjul, 01 November 2025