Protests have intensified across several major cities in Tanzania as opposition supporters reject Wednesday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, calling them fraudulent.
Hundreds of demonstrators also crossed into Kenya, blocking roads, lighting bonfires, and tearing down posters of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Kenyan police confirmed that two people died after fleeing violent confrontations between protesters and Tanzanian security forces.
Opposition groups accuse the government of undermining democracy, citing the imprisonment of the main opposition leader and the disqualification of another key contender—moves that have strengthened President Samia’s path to re-election.
Tensions rose further on Thursday after the electoral commission announced preliminary results showing President Samia winning nearly 95% of the votes in the south-western Mbea province and leading in several other constituencies, including Zanzibar.
The European Union (EU) has condemned the elections, describing them as a “fraudulent process” that had been “unfolding for months.”
Polling day was marked by violent clashes between opposition supporters and police. A day later, Tanzania’s military chief, Gen. Jacob Mkunda, blamed “bad elements who wish harm on the nation” for the unrest and destruction.
Gunfire was reported in Mwanza, while violent confrontations broke out in the capital, Dodoma, and Dar es Salaam, where major roads remain heavily secured.
Kenyan authorities have warned citizens to stay away from demonstrations near the Namanga border, where business activities have ground to a halt. Tanzanian police have used tear gas to disperse protesters, who engaged security forces in running battles throughout the day.
The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania said several key roads, including the route to Dar es Salaam’s international airport, were closed on Thursday.
An eyewitness in Mwanza told the BBC that hundreds of protesters poured into the city before police responded with gunfire and tear gas. “Within minutes, we heard shots and explosions. People were being carried away injured,” he said.
The Tanzanian government has ordered civil servants to work from home until Friday as tensions remain high.
Amnesty International expressed concern over reports of deaths, calling them “deeply troubling,” and warned that an ongoing internet shutdown could worsen the crisis. The rights group urged the government to restore access to information and respect citizens’ rights.
Reports suggest that protesters are now using a walkie-talkie app, Zello, to coordinate their next moves amid the internet disruption.
President Samia is widely expected to secure a second term, as major opposition candidates were either jailed or disqualified. Her ruling party, in power since independence, is also anticipated to dominate the parliamentary vote.
Main opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains in custody on treason charges, which he denies, while ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina was barred from contesting on procedural grounds. Sixteen minor parties with limited public backing were allowed to participate.
President Samia, who became Tanzania’s first female leader in 2021 after the death of John Magufuli, was initially commended for easing political repression. However, critics now accuse her government of shrinking political freedoms and targeting dissent through arrests and abductions.