Fri 16, Jan 2026
LONDON/DAR ES SALAAM — A comprehensive new investigation released today by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) has uncovered damning digital evidence of targeted killings, mass graves, and widespread human rights abuses in Tanzania following the October 2025 general election.
The report, titled Post-Election Violence in Tanzania: October & November 2025, analyzes over 180 pieces of digital evidence, including user-generated content (UGC) and satellite imagery. It paints a harrowing picture of state-led suppression in the wake of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's disputed re-election on October 29.
According to the investigation, Tanzanian security forces—often working in tandem with armed plain-clothed individuals—deployed live ammunition against protesters, resulting in a significant number of casualties.
"Targeted Killings" and Live Fire
The investigation identified clear patterns of violence, most notably the use of lethal force in urban centers. CIR verified multiple shooting incidents in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Tunduma.
One of the most disturbing clusters of violence occurred along Morogoro Road in Dar es Salaam. Verified footage from late October shows police opening fire on civilians attempting to block roads. In Arusha, investigators verified the shooting of a fleeing woman near the A104 highway. Reports indicate the victim was three months pregnant at the time.
"CIR verified the repeated use of live ammunition by security forces and plain-clothed armed men, resulting in casualties," the report states. "Many casualties show head and upper-body wounds consistent with gunfire."
International Outcry and Media Corroboration
The CIR findings align grimly with breaking reports from major international news outlets, which have documented similar atrocities despite the government's attempts to sever communications.
In a rare move, regional bodies have issued scathing critiques of the electoral process and the subsequent violence, marking a significant diplomatic isolation for President Hassan's administration.
Beyond the immediate violence, the investigation uncovered evidence suggesting attempts to conceal the scale of the killing—fears that have been echoed by the United Nations.
Using satellite imagery, CIR identified "unusually high activity" and newly disturbed earth at the Kondo cemetery in Dar es Salaam between November 2 and 5, 2025. This corroborates reports from local sources and international media alleging that bodies of protesters were buried in mass graves to hide the death toll.
Further satellite analysis revealed temporary structures erected at Kivule District Hospital, believed to be makeshift mortuaries constructed to handle an overflow of bodies. Verified footage from the Mwananyamala and Sekou Toure hospitals showed piles of deceased individuals in hallways and courtyards, overwhelming local facilities.
UN Condemnation
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued its own stark warning. On November 11, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that his office had received "disturbing reports" that security forces were removing bodies from streets and hospitals to undisclosed locations in an "apparent attempt to conceal evidence."
While the official election results declared a victory for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party with over 97% of the vote, the UN OHCHR reported that "at least 700" people may have died during the unrest. Opposition parties and human rights groups have claimed the actual toll could be as high as 3,000.
The CIR report concludes that while the curfew in Dar es Salaam has been lifted, the full extent of the atrocities is likely still emerging. The organization is calling for further independent research to identify the perpetrators and ensure accountability for what appears to be one of the bloodiest periods in Tanzania's recent political history.
LONDON/DAR ES SALAAM — A comprehensive new investigation released today by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) has uncovered damning digital evidence of targeted killings, mass graves, and widespread human rights abuses in Tanzania following the October 2025 general election.
The report, titled Post-Election Violence in Tanzania: October & November 2025, analyzes over 180 pieces of digital evidence, including user-generated content (UGC) and satellite imagery. It paints a harrowing picture of state-led suppression in the wake of President Samia Suluhu Hassan's disputed re-election on October 29.
According to the investigation, Tanzanian security forces—often working in tandem with armed plain-clothed individuals—deployed live ammunition against protesters, resulting in a significant number of casualties.
"Targeted Killings" and Live Fire
The investigation identified clear patterns of violence, most notably the use of lethal force in urban centers. CIR verified multiple shooting incidents in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Tunduma.
One of the most disturbing clusters of violence occurred along Morogoro Road in Dar es Salaam. Verified footage from late October shows police opening fire on civilians attempting to block roads. In Arusha, investigators verified the shooting of a fleeing woman near the A104 highway. Reports indicate the victim was three months pregnant at the time.
"CIR verified the repeated use of live ammunition by security forces and plain-clothed armed men, resulting in casualties," the report states. "Many casualties show head and upper-body wounds consistent with gunfire."
International Outcry and Media Corroboration
The CIR findings align grimly with breaking reports from major international news outlets, which have documented similar atrocities despite the government's attempts to sever communications.
- CNN published an investigation in early November, led by correspondent Nimi Princewill, revealing that police and armed forces had shot at protesters who were largely unarmed or carrying only stones. Their report notably claimed that victims may have been buried in mass graves and that morgues were overwhelmed with the bodies of young men.
- The BBC has reported estimates suggesting over 500 deaths, while Al Jazeera cited opposition sources claiming the toll had reached "hundreds" within days of the vote.
- Reuters correspondents on the ground confirmed the use of live ammunition and tear gas by security forces to disperse demonstrators who had defied curfews in Dar es Salaam.
In a rare move, regional bodies have issued scathing critiques of the electoral process and the subsequent violence, marking a significant diplomatic isolation for President Hassan's administration.
- SADC (Southern African Development Community): On November 3, the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) released a preliminary statement declaring that the election "fell short" of the organization's democratic principles. The mission concluded that in many areas, "voters were not able to express their democratic will freely," citing intimidation and restricted political participation.
- The African Union (AU): The AU's mission mirrored these concerns, stating on November 5 that the election did not comply with AU standards and that the environment was not conducive to a peaceful democratic process.
- The European Union (EU): The EU expressed "deep concern" over the violence and the lack of a level playing field, condemning the reported irregularities and the disproportionate use of force.
Beyond the immediate violence, the investigation uncovered evidence suggesting attempts to conceal the scale of the killing—fears that have been echoed by the United Nations.
Using satellite imagery, CIR identified "unusually high activity" and newly disturbed earth at the Kondo cemetery in Dar es Salaam between November 2 and 5, 2025. This corroborates reports from local sources and international media alleging that bodies of protesters were buried in mass graves to hide the death toll.
Further satellite analysis revealed temporary structures erected at Kivule District Hospital, believed to be makeshift mortuaries constructed to handle an overflow of bodies. Verified footage from the Mwananyamala and Sekou Toure hospitals showed piles of deceased individuals in hallways and courtyards, overwhelming local facilities.
UN Condemnation
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued its own stark warning. On November 11, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that his office had received "disturbing reports" that security forces were removing bodies from streets and hospitals to undisclosed locations in an "apparent attempt to conceal evidence."
While the official election results declared a victory for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party with over 97% of the vote, the UN OHCHR reported that "at least 700" people may have died during the unrest. Opposition parties and human rights groups have claimed the actual toll could be as high as 3,000.
The CIR report concludes that while the curfew in Dar es Salaam has been lifted, the full extent of the atrocities is likely still emerging. The organization is calling for further independent research to identify the perpetrators and ensure accountability for what appears to be one of the bloodiest periods in Tanzania's recent political history.
