Tanzania's main opposition party has accused authorities of killing hundreds during protests that erupted after Wednesday's elections, while the United Nations reported at least 10 deaths based on credible sources.
The government described the violence as isolated incidents and vowed to restore order swiftly, as heavy security forces patrolled major cities and enforced restrictions on movement and internet access.
Protests have continued into Friday, fueled by the exclusion of key opposition candidates and allegations of repression.
Demonstrations began in Dar es Salaam and spread to other cities like Mwanza, Shinyanga, and Morogoro, where protesters expressed fury over the barring of the two largest opposition parties from the race.
The CHADEMA party, disqualified in April for refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct, documented approximately 700 deaths nationwide based on health worker accounts, including around 350 in Dar es Salaam and over 200 in Mwanza.
Witnesses reported police using tear gas and gunfire to disperse crowds, with one resident recounting a family member shot dead outside a hospital, mistaken for a protester.
In response, authorities imposed an overnight curfew in Dar es Salaam for two nights, extended work-from-home orders to civil servants, and disrupted internet services since Wednesday.
Military and police maintained a heavy presence on Friday, restricting movement without valid reasons and preventing gatherings.
Several government offices, vehicles, a petrol station, and police stations were set ablaze during the unrest, prompting the postponement of college and university reopenings.
The army chief, Jacob John Mkunda, condemned the violence and affirmed the military's role in containing the situation alongside other security agencies.
The United Nations human rights spokesperson, Seif Magango, urged security forces to avoid unnecessary or disproportionate force, including lethal weapons, and called on protesters to remain peaceful.
The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee chair labeled the elections a fraud, citing an atmosphere of repression, intimidation, and fear.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 after her predecessor's death, initially earned praise for easing repression but now faces criticism over arrests, alleged abductions, and torture of opponents.
Hassan has denied widespread rights abuses and ordered an investigation into abduction reports last year, though no findings have been released.
The electoral commission announced provisional results showing Hassan securing commanding majorities in several constituencies, while the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party retained the presidency in Zanzibar with 78.8 percent of votes amid opposition claims of massive fraud.
CHADEMA spokesperson John Kitoka stated the party would press for continued protests until demands for electoral reforms are met.
The foreign affairs ministry assured diplomatic missions that temporary security measures would soon yield a return to normalcy.