Tanzania is facing one of its darkest moments in modern history as accounts of killings, disappearances, and fear continue to spread following the country’s recent elections.
Behind the scenes, government insiders say that hundreds of young protesters were massacred in the aftermath of the October 29 vote. Many politicians are reportedly horrified by what happened but too afraid to speak publicly, as a small group of powerful figures close to President Samia Suluhu Hassan tightens its control.
Images and videos showing bodies lying in the streets have circulated online despite a heavy internet blackout during the protests. The violence erupted after the announcement that President Hassan had won with 98 percent of the vote, a figure the opposition rejected as fraudulent. Opposition leaders say that more than 1,000 people were killed when security forces moved to crush the demonstrations, but the government has not released any official casualty figures even two weeks after the unrest.
Witnesses told reporters that security forces were seen removing bodies from hospitals and public areas, allegedly transporting them to undisclosed locations to hide evidence.
The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk confirmed receiving “disturbing reports” about such operations.
An unnamed Tanzanian government official told AFP that they were deeply disturbed by what they had witnessed but could not reveal their identity for fear of being killed. The same official provided possible coordinates of suspected mass graves near Dar es Salaam, in areas known as Kondo and Mabwepande, though this information could not be independently confirmed.
According to several sources, real power in Tanzania is now concentrated within a tiny circle around President Hassan. The group allegedly includes her son Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, her private secretary Waziri Salum, intelligence chief Suleiman Abubakar Mombo, and East African parliament member Angela Kizigha. These individuals are said to be shaping national decisions and directing the repression of dissent.
Witnesses and insiders describe scenes of extreme brutality. Some protesters were shot at close range by police, while others were beaten or taken away by unidentified armed men.
A bystander in Dar es Salaam recounted seeing a soldier shoot a protester in the head on election day, followed by more killings the next day. Many people fear another bloodbath after the opposition called for new demonstrations on December 9, Tanzania’s independence day.
The violence, according to insiders, began long before the election. Over the past year, critics have been abducted, attacked, or killed.
Many believe that President Hassan’s son leads a private militia responsible for many of these abductions. The government has denied any role in the disappearances, but reports from the Tanganyika Law Society had already confirmed more than 80 cases before the election, with numbers rising sharply during the campaign.
The disappearance of prominent figures, including former government spokesman Humphrey Polepole, who vanished after resigning in protest against the administration, has deepened public fear. Ordinary citizens have also been targeted for minor acts, such as critical social media posts.
President Hassan came to power after the sudden death of John Magufuli in 2021. Initially, she was praised for reopening political space and relaxing restrictions on the media.
But in 2024, repression intensified beyond Magufuli’s era, with widespread paranoia and unchecked use of force.
Lawmakers and officials reportedly discuss the killings in private, yet remain silent in public. Many now believe the country has crossed a line that cannot be reversed.
As one frightened government official told reporters, Tanzania will never be the same again.
