The diplomatic gloves have come off. In a rare and pointed intervention, Ghana has issued a stern rebuke regarding the escalating violence gripping Tanzania following the disputed October 29 general elections.

For Nairobi, this diplomatic friction signals a deepening crisis within the East African Community (EAC). As Accra warns of a threat to long-term stability, the ripple effects of Tanzania's unrest threaten to disrupt regional trade and security dynamics that are vital to the Kenyan economy.

A Call for Accountability

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Government of Ghana did not mince words. It described the post-election landscape in Tanzania as being marred by violent clashes, loss of life, and dangerous confrontations between protesters and security forces. Accra characterized these events as “alarming and detrimental to democratic governance.”

The West African nation extended condolences to the families of civilians killed, explicitly condemning the deaths as “unwarranted violence.” This language marks a significant departure from the usual quiet diplomacy often seen between African nations.

Ghana’s statement emphasized several critical demands for the Tanzanian administration:

• Rights-Based Policing: Security forces must prioritize the protection of peaceful demonstrators rather than suppression.
• End to Impunity: Authorities must deliver on assurances to address abuses through transparent justice.
• Institutional Obligation: All state organs must strictly adhere to their human rights obligations.

The Regional Echo

While President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has reportedly pointed fingers at foreign interference as a catalyst for the unrest, Ghana’s intervention suggests the international community is looking inward at Dodoma’s handling of the crisis. Accra stressed that effective policing must remain central to managing public order, warning that the current trajectory poses a serious threat to the country’s stability.

Ghana, currently a member of the UN Human Rights Council, noted that it stands aligned with the African Union, the Commonwealth, and the UN Human Rights Commissioner. The collective demand is clear: maximum restraint from all sides and credible, impartial investigations into the violence.

As the region watches, the burden now shifts to the Tanzanian government to prove that the narrative of a peaceful transition is not just a relic of the past, but a reality worth preserving for the sake of its citizens and its neighbors.