Tanzania Charges Dozens with Treason Following Election Protests

Tanzanian prosecutors have charged at least 76 individuals with treason following protests that erupted after the October 29 presidential election. The accused are alleged to have attempted to obstruct the electoral process and intimidate authorities in Dar es Salaam.

Among those charged is a businesswoman accused of encouraging protesters to purchase gas masks to protect themselves from police tear gas.

The main opposition party, CHADEMA, claims that security forces killed more than 1,000 people during the unrest, alleging that bodies were secretly disposed of to conceal the death toll. The government disputes these figures, calling them exaggerated without providing its own data.

International observers, including the African Union, have criticized the election, stating it did not meet democratic standards due to issues such as ballot stuffing and a hostile electoral environment.

In response to the unrest, Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi has urged Tanzanian authorities to ensure the safety of Kenyan nationals residing in Tanzania, following reports of Kenyans being targeted during the crackdown.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote, has condemned the violence and accused foreign elements of fueling the unrest.