Tanzanian authorities have engaged in a series of wrongful arrests targeting alleged protest organizers and opposition supporters ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on December 9, 2025. Human Rights Watch condemned the crackdown, urging the government to release all those arbitrarily detained and respect citizens’ rights to peaceful expression. The protests, encouraged by activists, are intended to highlight concerns over the police’s use of lethal force following the October 29 general elections. The government also canceled official Independence Day celebrations, redirecting funds to repair election-related damage, while police announced they would monitor and detain individuals committing “online offenses” linked to the protests.
Since mid-November, at least ten activists and opposition supporters have been arrested for social media posts encouraging participation in the protests. High-profile arrests include Ambrose Leonce Dede, accused of promoting crime through a WhatsApp group; Kibaba Furaha Michael, a hospital worker and union administrator; Clemence Mwandambo, a teacher; and Winfrida Charles Malembeka, charged with inciting violence via social media. Many detainees were initially reported missing and later confirmed to be in police custody. Authorities have specifically targeted members of the main opposition party, Chadema, including Victoria Swebe, Shabani Mabala, and Lucy Shayo, often without formal charges.
In addition to arrests, Tanzanian authorities have intensified digital surveillance and harassment of activists. Police raided a hotel in Dar es Salaam, seizing laptops, phones, and identity cards of staff from the Legal and Human Rights Center, later questioning them about election-related research. Social media platforms, such as Instagram, have restricted access to accounts following government requests, targeting content that called for peaceful protests or criticized the government. The U.S. embassy in Dar es Salaam also warned that security forces were searching electronic devices for politically sensitive material.
Concerns about post-election abuses include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions of protesters, opposition members, and civil society actors. In response, the Office of the President established an independent commission to investigate election-related unrest; however, the body excludes civil society and opposition members and has been tasked with identifying those who allegedly paid protestors. Human Rights Watch urged the government to ensure impartial accountability, investigate abuses thoroughly, and include broad participation in the inquiry.
Tanzanian and international law protect individuals from arbitrary arrest and safeguard freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Human Rights Watch called on regional bodies, including the African Union Peace and Security Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to pressure the government to uphold these obligations. Ensuring justice and accountability for post-election rights violations is critical to protecting Tanzanians’ fundamental freedoms and maintaining the rule of law.
