Tanzanian Commission Confirms 518 Deaths in Post-Election Unrest

Families of those killed in Tanzania's post-election violence are still waiting for official answers one year after the disputed general election. The central question remains whether the state will acknowledge the scale of the loss and the conduct of security forces during the unrest. The conflict between the government's narrative and the experiences of bereaved relatives continues to define the political landscape in the country.

A government-appointed panel, known as the Chande Commission, determined that at least 518 people died from unnatural causes during the period following the October 2025 vote. The commission reported that more than 2,000 individuals were injured. Retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, who led the panel, stated that the final death count could be higher. He noted that some families buried their relatives without transporting bodies to morgues or notifying the commission of the deaths.

Human Rights Watch concurs with the assessment that the official numbers may be low. Oryem Nyeko, the organization's senior Africa researcher, said it is clear the toll is far greater than the 518 figures presented by the commission. The violence erupted after the main opposition candidate, Tundu Lissu of the Tanzanian Party for Democracy and Progress, was arrested on treason charges in April 2025. His party was subsequently barred from participating in the election. Protesters in the days following the vote demanded political reforms and the resignation of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

In the city of Mwanza, a woman identified as Raha said her nephew, whom she had raised, died during the protests. She stated that justice could begin with a simple act of recognition from the state. "The government should have asked for forgiveness for what happened. Even just offering condolences," she said. Another family member, known as Zuri, lost her brother and son in the unrest. She questioned why the government had not visited the families of the deceased. "We lost our children; we lost our brothers. Why hasn't the government taken any initiative to at least visit us?" she asked.

Newswires and advocacy groups have reviewed dozens of videos, police guidelines, and internal reports to understand the events of that period. The evidence suggests that police likely acted beyond their standard training and operational guidelines. Documented incidents include protesters killed by gunshot wounds to the head and upper body, as well as non-protesters shot while fleeing or while outside during a government-imposed curfew. The police Field Force Unit, identifiable by red berets and riot gear, appeared frequently in the footage.

The Centre for Information Resilience recorded uniformed personnel beating civilians with sticks in Dar es Salaam. Videos from Mwanza showed the bodies of young men reportedly killed by people in police uniforms while watching television in a video hall. This specific case was cited by Human Rights Watch and flagged by the Chande Commission for further investigation. Security analyst Nicodemus Minde noted that the commission left critical questions about command and control unanswered. "The Commission did not really tell us who was responsible and why," Minde said.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has characterized the unrest as an attempt to overthrow the government. The Ministry of Home Affairs declined to comment on the allegations, stating that doing so would interfere with the legal process. Police had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication. The Chande Commission recommended further investigation but did not name specific security bodies, officers, or commanders. A second inquiry, chaired by retired Justice Shaban Ally Lila, began gathering evidence in August 2026. Its findings are currently pending.

For many bereaved relatives, the ongoing inquiries have not restored trust in the official process. The families continue to wait for a formal acknowledgment of their loss and a clear explanation of how the security forces operated during the days following the vote. The official death toll remains 518, a number that experts and families argue likely underrepresents the true cost of the violence.