Tanzania’s disputed presidential election has triggered a wave of unrest, and an extensive CNN investigation has revealed that police and armed groups opened fire on protesters in several locations. Many of those targeted appeared unarmed or were carrying only basic items such as rocks or sticks. The findings were based on geolocated videos, audio forensic analysis, and witness accounts collected following the re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who claimed a 98 percent victory on October 29 after her key rivals were barred from the race.
Verified footage reviewed by CNN supports reports of a high death toll during the post-election crackdown, with morgues struggling to manage the number of bodies arriving over several days. Satellite images and videos also show areas of newly disturbed ground at Kondo cemetery near Dar es Salaam, aligning with claims from human rights groups that protesters killed in recent weeks were buried there.
The government imposed curfews and an internet blackout immediately after the election as citizens protested the exclusion of opposition leaders. The main opposition figure, Tundu Lissu, has been in custody since April on treason charges. When partial connectivity returned a week later, police warned citizens against sharing visual evidence “that cause panic.” Officials initially denied that any deaths occurred, though the president later acknowledged casualties without releasing specifics. President Hassan has since launched a commission to investigate the unrest and has also suggested that some protesters were paid.
What Did Investigators Discover Across Tanzania?
Open-source investigator Benjamin Strick worked with CNN to examine dozens of videos and photos showing civilians killed or injured by gunfire. Verified content from hospitals in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam showed facilities overwhelmed as victims arrived. A doctor in Mwanza described how bodies were brought in until the morgue reached capacity, after which more were left outside.
Witness testimonies indicated that many of those affected were young people. CNN verified a video from the Mwananyamala Hospital morgue showing numerous bodies on the floor, although Tanzania’s Ministry of Health disputed its authenticity. One woman who viewed the footage told CNN she recognized her brother, noting that her family had searched multiple facilities without finding him.
In Arusha, CNN analyzed an incident in which two protesters were fatally shot during confrontations with police. Videos reviewed by investigators show that the victims did not appear to be posing an immediate threat. Audio forensics determined the distance between the shooter and the device recording the footage, supporting the analysis of the event’s location.
A witness told CNN the protest had begun peacefully before gunfire erupted. She recalled trying to help one of the victims but said continued shooting made it nearly impossible to assist anyone safely.
How Widespread Was the Crackdown After the Election?
Additional footage from other regions showed uniformed and plainclothes security officers chasing protesters and firing in populated neighborhoods. CNN geolocated videos of armed men stepping out of white pickup trucks in Dar es Salaam and opening fire in residential areas, sometimes alongside regular police.
Local organizations have raised alarms about the scale of the violence. Viral Scout Management, a sports consultancy, reported that seven young football players under their management were shot and killed in their homes. The group later stated that the bodies of six of the players could not be located.
Allegations of mass graves have intensified. Human rights groups and local sources told CNN that bodies of protesters killed after October 29 were buried at Kondo cemetery. High-resolution satellite images from early November show clear signs of recently disturbed soil near existing graves, with analysis suggesting the digging took place between November 2 and 5. Ground-level video obtained by CNN shows uneven patches of overturned earth, though the exact cause cannot be confirmed.
The situation has raised global concern, as the United Nations Human Rights Office reported that hundreds of protesters and civilians may have been killed, with many more injured or detained. Tanzania’s long-standing reputation as one of East Africa’s most stable nations has been significantly shaken by the events surrounding the election.
By Yockshard Enyendi
