One year after the post-election violence of October 2025, which left at least 518 dead according to a commission of inquiry, the President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan announces a series of political and judicial measures.
A year after the violence that shook Tanzania following the 2025 presidential election, the government is attempting to usher in a new political era. Based on the findings of a commission of inquiry chaired by Mohamed Chande Othman, President Samia Suluhu Hassan outlined a series of initiatives designed to address the crisis.
The commission estimates that at least 518 people lost their lives in the violence, which occurred amid an internet blackout and heightened political tensions. More than 800 gunshot wounds were also recorded. The report emphasizes, however, that the death toll could be higher, as some families buried their loved ones without using a morgue.
Since these events, 245 people remain missing, while 39 families claim to have seen the bodies of their loved ones in the morgue before their subsequent disappearance. While the commission has ruled out the possibility of mass graves, it recommends further investigations into the use of firearms and several cases of deaths occurring at home.
The violence erupted on October 29, 2025, in a tense electoral climate. Demonstrations were sparked by young people denouncing the marginalization of the opposition, whose main leader was imprisoned for treason and another candidate had been excluded from the presidential race.
Re-elected with 97% of the vote, Samia Suluhu Hassan faced sharp criticism from international observers who denounced an unfair election. The internet blackout, which lasted for several days, exacerbated tensions, a measure whose controversial nature the president has since acknowledged.
In her address, the head of state acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, declaring:
"What happened in October 2025 neither stopped nor reduced the problems our country faces. Chaos erupted, but chaos and violence did not solve our problems. On the contrary, they exacerbated them."
In the same vein, she stressed the need to draw institutional conclusions from the crisis:
"The findings of this commission will guide the constitutional amendments of our country."
Among the measures announced is the upcoming creation of a reconciliation commission, tasked with promoting national appeasement and supporting future political reforms.
In parallel, a new criminal investigation body will be established. Its mission will be to identify those involved in the planning, financing and execution of the violence, but also to investigate accusations of looting, destruction of infrastructure, disappearance of bodies and allegations of kidnapping.
While these announcements signal a clear desire to move on, they come in a context where wounds remain deep and many questions remain unanswered. For some observers, the issue now goes beyond mere crisis management: it concerns the Tanzanian government's ability to sustainably restore political and institutional trust.
