Prayers and Concern as Tanzania Faces a Lockdown After Violent Election Day
Assalamu alaykum - I'm sharing this because it's worrying and I hope people will keep those affected in their duas. Tanzania was effectively shut down with communications cut off a day after elections descended into violent unrest and there are unconfirmed reports of many casualties. President Samia Suluhu Hassan had tried to consolidate her position in largely uncontested polls while key rivals were jailed or disqualified. In the run-up to the vote human rights groups warned of a “wave of terror,” with several high-profile abductions increasing in the final days. Despite a heavy security presence, hundreds protested in Dar es Salaam and other cities, some chanting “We want our country back.” Unverified footage suggested initially small demonstrations grew larger during the day and that police used live rounds while targeting polling stations, police vehicles and businesses linked to the ruling party. A diplomatic source told news agencies the unrest carried on into the night despite a police curfew. An internet blackout remained in place the following day, and checkpoints manned by police and army were set up around Dar es Salaam and other towns. Schools and colleges were closed and many civil servants were told to work from home. The government has been quiet and local media, tightly controlled, have not reported on the unrest or given election updates. Some sources say as many as 30 people may have died in the violence, though that number couldn’t be independently verified. “It’s unprecedented…where we go from here is unclear,” the source said, and they described President Hassan’s position as uncertain. Disturbances were reported in several regions, including Songwe and the tourist area of Arusha. Foreign reporters have largely been prevented from traveling to mainland Tanzania to cover the elections. Much anger has been focused on Abdul, the president’s son, who is said to have overseen an informal security task force and is accused in some reports of being tied to the spike in abductions of government critics in the lead-up to voting. Amnesty International said they had documented two reported deaths from images and videos and called the violence “deeply disturbing,” warning the situation could escalate and urging restraint by authorities. Opposition sources told reporters they had information on at least four deaths but cautioned the figures weren’t certain. President Hassan, who became leader in 2021 after the sudden death of her predecessor, faced resistance from elements of the military and supporters of the previous administration. Initially some rights groups praised steps to relax restrictions on the opposition and media, but many of those hopes faded as the campaign period saw a crackdown described by Amnesty as involving enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings of activists and opposition figures. The main challenger is on trial for treason and could face the death penalty, while his party was barred from running; another significant candidate was disqualified on technical grounds. Please keep the victims and their families in your prayers and may Allah protect the innocent and guide the nation to peace.
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