International Condemnation and Calls for Restraint

The governments of Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Friday, 31 October 2025, condemning the deadly violence that has erupted in Tanzania following the country's disputed general elections held on Wednesday, 29 October 2025. The statement highlighted “credible reports of a large number of fatalities and significant injuries” resulting from the security response to protests that began on 29 October. The three nations urged Tanzanian authorities to “act with maximum restraint and respect the right of assembly and freedom of expression.” Their statement also expressed concern over the pre-election environment, which they noted was “marked by harassment, abductions and intimidation of opposition figures, journalists and civil society actors.”

The United Nations has echoed these concerns, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing deep concern and calling for a thorough and impartial investigation into all allegations of excessive force. The UN Human Rights Office reported receiving credible information of at least 10 deaths in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro, while opposition parties claim the death toll could be as high as 700 nationwide. Amnesty International has also reported receiving information of at least 100 casualties and warned of a high risk of further escalation. The Tanzanian government, through its Foreign Affairs Ministry, has described the opposition's figures as “hugely exaggerated” but has not provided an official casualty count, attributing the violence to “isolated incidents” caused by criminal elements.

Kenya-Tanzania Border Becomes Flashpoint

The instability in the neighbouring country has had immediate and significant repercussions for Kenya. On Thursday, 30 October 2025, Kenya’s Interior Principal Secretary, Raymond Omollo, announced that security had been intensified along all border points with Tanzania, including Namanga, Taveta, Isebania, and Lunga Lunga. The move is intended to prevent a spillover of violence and manage the flow of people across the border. Omollo cautioned Kenyans against participating in any cross-border demonstrations, stating that anyone engaging in unlawful protests on the Kenyan side would face the full force of the law. He described the situation in Tanzania as an internal matter but wished the neighbouring country well in its democratic processes.

The vital Namanga One-Stop Border Post, a critical artery for the East African Community (EAC) trade, was paralysed as protests erupted. Reports from Thursday, 30 October 2025, indicated that demonstrators from the Tanzanian side barricaded roads and lit bonfires, bringing cross-border trade and travel to a standstill for hours. Witnesses reported that Tanzanian security forces fired tear gas canisters across the border, forcing Kenyan businesses to shut down and leaving cargo trucks and passenger vehicles stranded. The disruption threatens to inflict significant economic losses, as the route is crucial for goods moving between the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

Disputed Election and Regional Silence

The unrest stems from a general election that critics and international observers have described as deeply flawed. President Samia Suluhu Hassan sought re-election in a contest where her main challengers were either jailed or disqualified. The main opposition party, Chadema, was barred from the election, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, is on trial for treason. This led to widespread protests in major cities like Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Dodoma, with demonstrators clashing with security forces. In response, the Tanzanian government imposed a nationwide internet blackout and a dusk-to-dawn curfew in an attempt to quell the dissent.

Despite the escalating crisis in a key member state, official statements from regional bodies have been conspicuously absent. Both the African Union (AU) and the East African Community (EAC) deployed election observer missions. An AU arrival statement indicated a preliminary report would be issued on 30 October 2025. However, as of Saturday, 1 November 2025, reports indicated that these observer missions had yet to release their substantive post-election findings. This silence has drawn criticism from human rights groups and Kenyan civil society organizations, who have urged the regional blocs to condemn the violence and refuse to recognize an election that fails to meet democratic standards. The lack of a unified regional response leaves a vacuum as international partners outside the continent take a stronger stance, raising questions about the EAC's and AU's role in upholding democratic principles and ensuring regional stability. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED on the final reports from the AU and EAC observer missions.