In Tanzania, a government inquiry has confirmed that at least 518 people were killed in the violence that followed the 29 October 2025 general election, marking the first official acknowledgment of the scale of the crisis nearly six months after it unfolded.
The findings come after months of speculation, competing claims, and limited official communication about the true impact of the unrest. The announcement confirms what many had feared since the immediate post-election period, when protests erupted across major cities and security forces responded with heavy force.
According to the commission, the majority of those killed died from gunshot wounds, with victims including men, women, and children. The report also records the deaths of security personnel during the clashes. In addition, thousands of people were injured, many reportedly from live ammunition, while hundreds remain unaccounted for months later.
However, even as the figures were made public, questions quickly emerged about why it took so long for the information to be released and why the full report has not yet been made available. The delay has fueled suspicions among critics who argue that the true scale of the violence may be higher than officially stated.
Opposition groups have rejected the findings, insisting that the toll underestimates what actually happened on the ground and accusing authorities of withholding key details. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have also raised concerns, pointing to evidence suggesting excessive use of force by security personnel during the crackdown.
At the same time, the government maintains that the violence was not spontaneous but organised and coordinated, arguing that security forces were responding to a serious threat to public order following a disputed election process.
Despite these competing narratives, the absence of the full inquiry report has become the central issue. Analysts say the partial release of information has deepened mistrust, leaving citizens and observers questioning what exactly happened during the days of unrest and who should ultimately be held accountable.
The violence, which began immediately after the October 2025 election, quickly escalated into one of Tanzania’s most serious political crises in recent years. While the streets have since quieted, the political and emotional aftermath continues to shape national debate.
Six months on, the confirmation of 518 deaths has provided a formal figure but not closure. Instead, it has reopened debate over transparency, accountability, and whether the full truth behind the post-election violence will ever be fully known.
