Tanzania Declares Nationwide Curfew After Tense Election Day Unrest
Tanzania’s police have imposed a nationwide curfew today following widespread unrest and violent demonstrations that erupted after a tense election day. The curfew, which will take effect at 6 p.m. local time, was announced by Inspector General of Police Camillus Wambura, who said the decision was necessary to restore calm and prevent further chaos across the country.
The announcement came after protests broke out in several regions, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Dodoma, where angry voters took to the streets to denounce alleged irregularities in vote counting and the arrest of opposition agents. In Dar es Salaam’s Kimara and Kibo neighborhoods, police clashed with protesters, and reports emerged of a police station being set ablaze during the confrontations.
Authorities said the curfew will remain in effect until order is fully restored. Under the new restrictions, residents are prohibited from leaving their homes between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless authorized for emergency or essential duties. Security forces have been deployed in major towns and cities to enforce the measure, with checkpoints set up along key roads. Regional Commissioner Alfred Chalamila warned against any attempts to mobilize or spread misinformation through social media, saying anyone caught organizing or participating in illegal protests would face severe consequences.
Opposition leaders condemned the curfew, accusing the government of using it as a tool to suppress public dissent and conceal alleged election malpractices. Tundu Lissu, a leading opposition figure, said the curfew represented “a desperate attempt to silence the people’s outrage” and called for the international community to intervene. The Electoral Commission has yet to release final results, but early figures indicate a strong lead for President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. However, the opposition maintains that the process was deeply flawed and that widespread intimidation tainted the credibility of the vote.