Tanzania's Curfew Lifted Amidst Election Tensions

Tue Nov 04 2025 22:01:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The government of Tanzania has lifted a curfew in Dar es Salaam following unrest linked to the recent presidential election, which has seen reported violence and casualties.

In the aftermath of deadly protests triggered by the recent election, Tanzania's police have lifted a curfew imposed on the main city, Dar es Salaam. While some businesses have started reopening and traffic has resumed, reports suggest high casualty numbers from clashes between security forces and opposition supporters. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has assumed office following the contentious election, raising concerns about political repression and human rights violations amid ongoing unrest and criticism from observers and human rights organizations.

Tanzanian police have lifted a night-time curfew imposed since last Wednesday in the main city Dar es Salaam following deadly election protests, as life slowly returns to normal across the country.

Following the unrest, the internet was cut nationwide and most shops in Dar es Salaam closed amid acute shortages of basic essentials and soaring prices. Schools shut and public transport came to a halt.

On Tuesday, some shops reopened and traffic resumed, but with queues persisting at some petrol stations in Dar es Salaam.

Families continue to search for or bury relatives killed in the clashes between the security forces and opposition supporters who denounced the poll as a sham.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in on Monday after being declared the winner of last Wednesday's election with 98% of the vote. However, the two main opposition leaders were unable to contest the poll due to various legal issues, raising significant concerns about the democratic process.

Observers from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) reported that the election fell short of democratic standards, highlighting widespread violence which began with protests against the announcement of results.

The casualty estimates suggest deaths numbering in the hundreds, with activists and foreign observers condemning the government’s use of force to suppress dissent and calling for accountability.

During her inauguration ceremony, President Samia acknowledged the violence and loss of lives, implying that foreign nationals were partly to blame and committing to investigate the unrest while seeking to stabilize the political environment.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International criticized the government for the lethal response to protests, demanding respect for human rights and accountability for those responsible for the violence.