The instability in Tanzaniaafter the re-election of the president with 98% of the votes under the shadow of electoral fraud, is latent in the streets. And to this is added the suspicion that the leader, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has placed to several members of his family in the Government.
According to published information, Suluhu would have enchufado to his brother-in-law in the Ministry of Finance; his son-in-law, in the Health portfolio; as vice minister of Education, to a daughter; in a “special” seat as a deputy to another of his daughters; as head of Defense to a friend and at the same time a priest who officiated his weddingand finally to his niece as Vice Minister of Labor.
Tanzania passes through “the worst wave of electoral violence in the history of the country”according to Associated Press. The president stated a week ago that her government “could lose access to international financing,” this being one of the measures that keeps the country afloat.
“We have to look for funds internally using the resources that God gave us,” said the Tanzanian president. The elections held on October 29 in this country located in the east of the African continent were marked by three days of protests. The opposition confirmed that more than 2,000 people died during the riots.
In fact, the president’s investiture ceremony did not allow citizens to attend, even though they have been allowed to attend on previous occasions. The swearing-in used to take place in the country’s football stadiums. Only some members of the ruling party, representatives of the diplomatic corps and several African presidents attended.
street tension
After three days of electoral protests where numerous deaths were recorded and businesses remained closed to avoid acts of vandalism and lootingemployees continue to work from home.
“The truth is that no legitimate elections were held in Tanzania. “It is a mockery of democracy,” stated the statement released by the spokesman for the opposition party, politician Tundu Lissu.
Tanzanian riot police officers with the lifeless body of a man during protests.
Furthermore, this former Tanzanian parliamentarian has several months in prison after being accused of “treason” for calling for “electoral reforms” that, according to him, “were necessary for free and fair elections.”
Another opposition figure, Luhaga Mpinaof the ACT-Wazalendo party, was disqualified from running for office. The presidents of Mozambique, Zambia, Burundi and Somalia attended the inauguration session. For his part, the Kenyan president, William Rutocalled for “dialogue” between the parties.
Hundreds of “traitors”
The Tanzanian Prosecutor’s Office accused almost a hundred people (98) of the crime of “treason” for their alleged participation in the massive protests calling out against the October 29 elections.
Based on the judicial documents consulted by Reuters, The Tanzanian Prosecutor’s Office argued before the court of first instance of Dar es Salaamthe economic capital of the country, that those accused “had the intention of obstructing the 2025 general elections with the purpose of intimidating the Government.” No public figure was arrested.
US alert
The United States government, under the mandate of Donald Trumphas urged its citizens to reconsider their planned trips to Tanzania due to multiple protests.
He State Department The North American country raised its travel alert to Tanzania due to “civil unrest, violent crime, terrorist threats and the systematic persecution of LGBT people.”
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan votes at a polling station in Dodoma.
“Demonstrations can be unpredictable. The Tanzanian Government increases the security presence around the protests, which includes checkpoints and roadblocks,” indicated the ministry led by Marco Rubio.
USA warned that “violent crime is common” in Tanzaniaincluding assaults, sexual assaults, robberies and vehicle hijackings. Furthermore, they point out that “The Local Police has limited resources to respond effectively to serious crimes.
The State Department also emphasizes that the “terrorist threat” exists in the country, especially in the Mtwara region, south of Tanzanianear the border with Mozambique.
“Members of the gay and lesbian community have been arrested, chased and harassed“they warned from the United States.
Exit manual
The cabinet of Marco Rubio offered a series of specific security recommendations in case violence escalates and its citizens still decide to travel to Tanzania.
They urged travelers to have a plan to leave the country in case of emergency that does not depend on the US Government. At the same time, they encouraged people to keep an eye on local media or “always be aware of your surroundings.”
It was also recommended to always carry a copy of your passport, keep official documents in a safe place, watch your food, stay alert in tourist places and “avoid public displays of affection, particularly between same-sex couples”.