Tanzania lifts curfew after deadly election protests
Tanzanian authorities have ended a nighttime curfew in Dar es Salaam after violence following disputed elections left hundreds dead, though families continue searching for missing relatives as the country attempts to recover from days of unrest.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan took the oath of office on Monday after officials announced she captured 98 percent of the votes cast on Wednesday of last week. The Southern African Development Community reported the contest failed to meet democratic benchmarks. Opposition party Chadema told a news agency that at least 800 people had been killed by Saturday, while diplomatic sources indicated credible evidence suggested 500 fatalities. United Nations human rights officials said reliable accounts documented a minimum of 10 deaths across three cities. A physician at Muhimbili Hospital said municipal vehicles have been removing bodies at night and taking them to undisclosed locations, with police also transferring injured protesters before their recovery.
Hassan acknowledged deaths and property damage during her swearing-in ceremony but claimed some arrested individuals were foreign citizens. Two leading opposition figures could not participate in the election, with Tundu Lissu facing treason accusations and Luhaga Mpina disqualified on administrative grounds. Human Rights Watch condemned the deadly response to demonstrations.
