Tanzania opens new probe into deadly 2025 election unrest

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced a new investigation on Friday into violence around the October 2025 general election, in which hundreds, possibly thousands, of people died.

An initial government-appointed inquiry, which submitted its findings in April, said at least 518 people died during and after the vote. Opposition and religious groups say thousands were killed by security forces, while Western diplomats have estimated the toll at between 1,000 and 2,000.

Western diplomats and rights groups have accused Hassan's government of massacring hundreds of people during the unrest and of abducting and murdering critics before the election. The government inquiry did not say who was responsible, but recommended a criminal investigation to identify the main perpetrators and recommend accountability steps.

Hassan said the new commission would investigate who instigated the violence, who took part and who financed the events. She said it had been given five months to report, with a possible extension if needed.

The six-person team includes judges from Uganda and Namibia, which Hassan said was intended to strengthen the credibility and independence of the investigation. She appealed to Tanzanians to cooperate with the commission and allow it to work without interference.

Hassan was declared the winner of the October 2025 election with 98 percent of the vote.