Tanzania Deploys Police Ahead of Protests
Police and soldiers have been deployed across major cities in Tanzania as the government moves to quell planned protests against the outcome of October’s disputed elections.
The deployment occurred early Tuesday, coinciding with the nation’s Independence Day celebrations, which saw a noticeable absence of citizens on the streets following a government appeal to stay home. Authorities have declared any demonstrations illegal, framing them as a potential coup attempt.
The crackdown follows a period of intense political violence after the October 29th elections, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan was re-elected with nearly 98% of the vote. This election was marred by the barring of leading opposition candidates and resulted in hundreds of deaths and over 2,000 detentions during three days of protests.
Police trucks and officers were visibly patrolling Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Arusha, with roadblocks set up near key government buildings, including President Hassan’s offices.
Human Rights Watch has strongly condemned the ongoing crackdown on activists. “At least 10 people have been arrested since mid-November following social media posts about the planned protests,” the organization stated. Oryem Nyeko, a Senior Researcher in the Africa Division, explained, “In the last couple of weeks, the government has sent a strong message that people should not go out into the streets and protest and express themselves about the violence that took place during the October 29th elections.”
Nyeko further emphasized the problematic nature of this suppression, stating, “This is very problematic as people have a right to express themselves and to talk about things that concern them.” He added that the organization has documented instances of individuals being apprehended from their homes and public spaces by individuals in plain clothes. “In my opinion,” Nyeko said, “It is just a sign that Tanzanian authorities are increasingly intolerant of people’s right to assemble.”
Amnesty International has also joined the calls for restraint, urging the authorities to respect and protect citizens’ rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. The government last month cancelled official Independence Day celebrations, citing the need to redirect funds towards repairing infrastructure damaged during the post-election unrest.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
