Tanzanian authorities have filed treason charges against dozens of individuals in connection with violent protests that erupted after the disputed October 29 election.
According to a charge sheet cited by the Associated Press (AP), at least 76 people were accused of attempting to disrupt the electoral process. Reuters, citing separate court documents, reported an even higher figure of 145 people charged with treason over their alleged roles in the unrest. Many of the defendants also face additional counts of criminal conspiracy.
While broad allegations were listed against the group, prosecutors detailed specific charges against only one suspect—a businesswoman accused of encouraging demonstrators to purchase tear-gas masks from her shop during the protests.
Human rights groups and the main opposition party, Chadema, claim that security forces killed more than 1,000 people during the crackdown. The government denies the death toll but has not provided alternative figures.
The protests followed the widely contested election in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan—sworn in on Monday—secured nearly 98 percent of the vote. The African Union (AU) condemned the election, saying it fell short of democratic norms.
AU observers noted ballot stuffing, an internet shutdown, allegations of excessive military force, and politically motivated abductions, describing the actions as “compromising election integrity.”
Controversy also deepened after the two leading opposition candidates were barred from participating in the vote. Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, remains in prison on treason charges first filed in April.
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