Approximately 700 Allegedly Killed in Tanzanian Voting Uprisings, Opposition Declares
According to the chief opposition faction, about 700 individuals have reportedly lost their lives during 72 hours of poll-related unrest in the East African nation.
Clashes Starts on Polling Day
Unrest started on election day over what activists labeled the silencing of the rival camp after the removal of major candidates from the election contest.
Fatality Figures Reported
A opposition representative stated that numerous of civilians had been lost their lives since the protests started.
"As we speak, the death toll in Dar es Salaam is approximately 350 and for Mwanza it is more than 200. Including numbers from other places throughout the country, the overall figure is nearly 700," the official remarked.
He mentioned that the death count could be significantly greater because fatalities might be happening during a night-time restriction that was implemented from election day.
Other Accounts
- A security source supposedly claimed there had been reports of exceeding 500 deaths, "maybe 700-800 in the nationwide."
- Amnesty International said it had received data that at least 100 civilians had been killed.
- Rival groups claimed their figures had been gathered by a team of party members visiting clinics and medical centers and "tallying dead bodies."
Appeals for Intervention
The opposition urged the government to "halt killing our demonstrators" and demanded a interim government to pave the way for free and fair elections.
"End excessive force. Uphold the will of the people which is fair elections," the spokesperson stated.
Government Reaction
Authorities responded by implementing a lockdown. Internet disruption were also observed, with global watchdogs reporting it was countrywide.
The following day, the army chief condemned the unrest and labeled the demonstrators "offenders". He announced security forces would seek to contain the situation.
International Concern
United Nations human rights office said it was "worried" by the fatalities and harm in the unrest, mentioning it had obtained accounts that no fewer than 10 civilians had been lost their lives by security forces.
The office stated it had received credible accounts of deaths in the port city, in a northwestern region and an eastern area, with law enforcement firing live ammunition and teargas to scatter protesters.
Expert View
An civil rights attorney remarked it was "unjustified" for authorities to employ violence, stating that the nation's president "should avoid sending the law enforcement against the public."
"The president needs to listen to the public. The mood of the country is that there was no fair vote … We cannot vote for only one option," the advocate commented.
