Samia Suluhu Hassan’s re-election has sparked protests and a deadly police crackdown, and he faces international calls for accountability.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan says his government will launch an investigation into deadly violence that erupted after last month’s controversial re-election, as claims of an undemocratic voting process sparked mass protests.
Speaking during the opening of Tanzania’s new parliament on Friday, Hassan said he was “deeply saddened by the incident” and offered his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the crackdown.
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“The government has taken steps to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate what happened,” she added.
Her comments were the first conciliatory message by Tanzanian authorities since they violently cracked down on widespread demonstrations after the Oct. 29 presidential election.
Hassan was declared the winner of the vote with nearly 98% support after his leading rivals were barred from participating, sparking anger and frustration among many Tanzanians who say the contest is unfair.
The exact death toll is unknown, but Tanzania’s main opposition party said hundreds were killed as the government sent troops into the streets to quell protests. Authorities also imposed an internet blackout on the East African country.
“Severe human rights violations”
Human rights groups have called for a thorough independent investigation into what happened, and Amnesty International said authorities committed “grave human rights violations, including unlawful killings, enforced disappearances and unlawful detention.”
“Authorities should promptly, thoroughly, independently, impartially, transparently and effectively investigate all killings by security personnel and bring those suspected of responsibility to justice in a fair trial,” the group said in a statement in early November.
Earlier this week, UN human rights chief Volker Turk also called on the Tanzanian government to investigate the killings and other rights violations.
He called on the authorities to provide information on the whereabouts of the missing persons and hand over the bodies of the deceased.
“Reports of families desperately searching everywhere for their loved ones, visiting police station after police station and hospital after hospital are dire,” Turk said, adding that his office was unable to confirm the number of casualties due to the security situation and internet shutdown.
Investigating “crimes” committed by young people
Meanwhile, dozens of people have been charged with treason and other crimes in connection with the protests.
On Friday, President Hassan, who first came to power in 2021 following the sudden death of his predecessor John Magufuli, appeared to signal leniency.
“I recognize that many of the young people arrested and charged with treason did not know what they were doing,” she said in a speech to parliament.
“As the mother of this nation, I direct law enforcement agencies, especially police departments, to investigate the level of crime committed by our country’s youth.
“Those who appear to have followed the crowd but did not intend to commit a crime should have their mistakes erased,” she added.
Hassan also acknowledged the opposition Chadema party’s demand that constitutional reforms are needed to achieve meaningful reconciliation. He said his government would begin the process of amending the constitution within 100 days of taking office.
