A government-appointed commission in Tanzania has reported that 518 people died during violence surrounding the country’s October general election, a figure significantly lower than estimates provided by opposition groups.
The commission’s chairman, Mohamed Chande Othman, disclosed the findings on Thursday while presenting the report on the unrest that followed the October 29 polls.
According to Othman, the total number of fatalities linked to the election-related violence stood at 518, including 490 men.
“The total number of deaths resulting from the general elections was 518, of whom 490 were male,” he said.
He added that the victims included 21 children and 16 security officers, while more than 2,000 people were injured during the unrest.
The commission stated that the deaths resulted from “unnatural causes” linked to widespread protests that erupted after the election results were announced.
However, Othman did not assign responsibility for the killings, instead recommending that further investigations be conducted to determine accountability.
Reacting to the report, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the findings had deeply shaken the nation.
She noted that lessons must be learned from the violence but defended the actions of the country’s security forces, saying their intervention helped prevent widespread anarchy.
Hassan had secured victory in the October 29 presidential election with 98 per cent of the vote, according to official results.
The findings were strongly rejected by the main opposition party, Chadema, which described the report as a “cover-up” intended to conceal the scale of the violence.
Opposition groups and religious organisations had earlier alleged that thousands of people were killed during the unrest, with some claims suggesting the existence of mass graves.
The commission said those allegations could not be substantiated, adding that some images circulated online had been manipulated using artificial intelligence technologies.
Beyond the casualty figures, the report identified several underlying causes of the violence, including economic challenges, political grievances and social tensions.
It also cited demands for political reforms, unemployment and what it described as a “lack of patriotism” as factors that fuelled the protests.
Among its recommendations, the commission proposed the declaration of a national day of mourning for victims, the provision of free medical treatment for those injured and the drafting of a new constitution by 2028.
The panel also recommended the launch of a criminal inquiry to determine accountability for the violence and ensure justice for victims.
Analysts say the commission’s report could reignite debate over the credibility of the election and the government’s handling of the unrest, as tensions between authorities and opposition groups remain high.
