A coalition of Kenyan and African civil society organisations has issued a joint statement demanding Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan take full responsibility for alleged human rights violations following the country’s October 29 general election.
The groups, operating under the Pan-African network, Jumuiya Ni Yetu, accused Suluhu’s administration of overseeing widespread killings, disappearances, and unlawful detentions targeting civilians and opposition supporters.
In s statement, the organisations called for Suluhu’s immediate resignation and the formation of an interim transitional government to restore the rule of law and order in Tanzania.
They also urged the African Union and United Nations to launch independent investigations into what they described as 'mass atrocities committed by state agents' in the East African country.
“The African people cannot remain silent in the face of mass killings and systemic violations of human rights. We demand that President Samia Suluhu step down and allow for a credible transitional process that will restore justice and accountability,” the statement read in part.
International Sanctions
The coalition, which brings together over 40 civic groups from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, and other African states, further called for sanctions and international isolation of senior Tanzanian officials allegedly linked to the abuses.
At the same time, they demanded the immediate release of all detained political prisoners.
They also called for the restoration of internet access and the reopening of civic spaces for journalists, activists, and opposition members.
Regional Threat
According to the groups, the situation in Tanzania represents a growing regional threat to democracy, with several governments across Africa accused of adopting similar authoritarian tactics to silence dissent.
“The silence of regional bodies like the East African Community (EAC) and the African Union is deeply concerning. Their inaction emboldens impunity and undermines the very principles of justice they claim to uphold,” the coalition added.
Hidden Operations
Further, the groups accused Tanzanian security forces of conducting coordinated raids, mass arrests, and extrajudicial executions in key urban areas, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Mbeya.
They also alleged that hospitals and morgues in the East African nation are under surveillance by state agents to conceal the extent of casualties.
The lobby groups claim that journalists and activists who attempted to document the violence have been targeted, with some reportedly detained or forced into hiding.
While the Tanzanian government has not officially responded to the allegations, the civil society coalition urged international bodies and African leaders to intervene, warning that continued silence would amount to conspiracy in hiding mass atrocities.
