Tanzanian cities are empty as police patrol streets following calls for protests

Tension gripped Tanzania’s major cities Tuesday as security forces heavily patrolled deserted streets following calls for protests against President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s disputed election victory. The demonstrations, declared illegal by the government, failed to materialize amid a significant security presence and warnings from authorities.

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial hub, police trucks and officers on foot maintained vigilance throughout the day. Similar scenes unfolded in Dodoma, the administrative capital, and the northeastern city of Arusha. Authorities erected roadblocks near key government buildings, including the president’s heavily fortified offices in both major cities.

Public transportation in Dar es Salaam came to a standstill as bus drivers, fearing potential vandalism, kept vehicles off the roads. The heightened security measures came after Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba’s Monday announcement urging non-essential workers to remain home.

Police spokesperson David Misime characterized the situation as “calm” while warning citizens against viewing “videos from past events” circulating on social media, an apparent reference to footage from the violent post-election protests that erupted in late October.

The October 29 election, which saw President Hassan secure more than 97% of the vote, sparked three days of deadly demonstrations that left hundreds dead and over 2,000 people detained. Protesters demanded the cancellation of election results after the country’s two main opposition parties were barred from participation and prominent opposition leader Tundu Lissu was imprisoned.

Tuesday’s date held additional significance as Tanzania’s Independence Day, marking the nation’s freedom from British colonial rule in 1961. The government had previously canceled official celebrations, redirecting funds toward repairing infrastructure damaged during the October unrest.

The political tensions have spilled beyond Tanzania’s borders. In neighboring Kenya, authorities arrested several activists Tuesday who had gathered outside the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi. A day earlier, Kenyan activists held a press conference expressing solidarity with Tanzanian protesters and calling for investigations into killings and disappearances during the October demonstrations.

International human rights organizations have raised alarms about Tanzania’s deteriorating civil liberties. Human Rights Watch reported that at least 10 people have been detained since mid-November for social media posts related to the planned protests. Amnesty International urged Tanzanian authorities to respect citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and warned against internet restrictions similar to the week-long shutdown that followed the October election.

“The Tanzanian government must ensure that people can exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly without fear of arrest, harassment or intimidation,” Amnesty International said in its statement.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights added its voice to these concerns on Friday, calling on Tanzanian authorities to “refrain from using force to disperse non-violent assemblies and make every effort to de-escalate tensions.”

While Tanzania’s government has established a commission to investigate the post-election violence, its findings have yet to be announced. The political crisis represents a significant challenge for President Hassan, who initially took office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, and had promised democratic reforms after years of increasingly authoritarian rule.

The current situation raises questions about Tanzania’s democratic trajectory, with critics pointing to the lopsided election results and subsequent crackdown as evidence of democratic backsliding in what was once considered one of East Africa’s more stable nations.