Washington Demands Answers Amid Post-Election Bloodshed

Two senior United States senators have called for a fundamental reassessment of America's relationship with Tanzania following a brutal crackdown on post-election protests that has reportedly left hundreds dead. In a joint statement issued on Friday, November 14, 2025 (EAT), U.S. Senators Jim Risch (Republican-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire), the chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned Tanzania's October 29 general election as fraudulent and predetermined.

"On Wednesday, October 29th, Tanzania held elections marred by state-sponsored political repression, targeted abductions and manipulation," the senators stated. They asserted that the election's outcome was decided "well before" polling day and that the subsequent public anger was met with a "heavy-handed security response [that] resulted in the death of hundreds and the abduction and imprisonment of many more." The United Nations Human Rights Office has also stated it received credible information suggesting hundreds were killed during the protests.

Observer Missions Divided, Rights Groups Allege Atrocities

The election, which saw incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan returned to power with a declared 97.66% of the vote, has been widely discredited by international observers and human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch reported that authorities responded to protests with "lethal force," using live ammunition on demonstrators in major cities like Dar es Salaam. The main opposition party, Chadema, which boycotted the polls, has alleged that up to 1,000 people were killed by security forces. These figures have not been independently verified, as the government imposed a near-total internet shutdown for several days, severely hampering communication and the flow of information.

Regional observer missions offered conflicting assessments. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission concluded that the elections "fell short of the requirements of the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections." In stark contrast, the East African Community (EAC) observer mission, led by former Ugandan Vice President Speciosa Kazibwe, issued a more cautious preliminary statement that was criticized for its silence on the widespread irregularities and violence. The EAC had deployed a 67-member team to observe the polls across the country.

Direct Impact on Kenya's Border and Economy

The instability in Tanzania has had immediate and tangible consequences for Kenya, its northern neighbour and key trading partner. Violent protests erupted at the Namanga One-Stop Border Post, a critical economic artery, paralysing cross-border trade and travel for hours. Reports indicated that Tanzanian police fired tear gas into Kenyan territory as they dispersed crowds.

Kenyan traders and transport operators, particularly at the Taveta-Holili border, have reported significant disruptions, facing harassment and arbitrary restrictions from Tanzanian security forces. This has choked a vital trade corridor where, in 2024, Kenyan exports to Tanzania were valued at KSh 67 billion, with imports at KSh 58 billion. The Kenya Association of Manufacturers warned on November 4, 2025, that prolonged instability could severely damage this crucial economic relationship. An economic analyst, David Namu Kariuki, told Tuko.co.ke that the crisis could erode investor confidence and disrupt the trade of key agricultural products.

Nairobi Expresses Concern for Citizens' Safety

The Kenyan government has officially voiced its concerns. On November 6, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, held a phone consultation with his Tanzanian counterpart, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo. Mr. Mudavadi stated that Kenya had filed "formal reports" with Tanzanian authorities regarding alleged violations of its citizens' rights and called for their protection. An estimated 250,000 Kenyans live and work in Tanzania.

In response to the escalating crisis, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced the formation of a commission of inquiry to investigate the killings. In a speech on November 14, she expressed sadness over the loss of life and called for leniency for some protesters who had been charged with treason. The Tanzanian government has not yet issued a direct public response to the specific demands made by the U.S. senators. The U.S. State Department has also not yet formally responded to the senators' call for a relationship review, though it had previously issued travel advisories citing civil unrest. The senators' statement concluded with a stark warning: "Tanzania's continued pivot from the rule of law, reform, and good governance demands a genuine assessment of the U.S. bilateral relationship with Tanzania."