Tanzania is seeking the arrest of 10 people, including open opposition figures, it blames for deadly protests during last week’s election.
More than 1,000 people have been killed by security forces in the demonstrations, according to the main opposition party, Chadema, and human rights bodies. The Tanzanian government said these figures were inflated but did not provide its own figures.
The incumbent president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, is considered the winner of the election with 98% of the vote, but the opposition – which is prohibited by the results.
The Government claimed that the elections were free and fair, but the main opponents were not allowed to run, election observers said the vote was undemocratic and cited instances of the ballot.
Tanzanian authorities say 10 people are wanted in connection with the riots, including senior Chadema figures. On Friday, prosecutors charged 145 people with treason.
“The police force, in collaboration with other defense and security agencies, continues a serious manhunt to find all those who planned, carried out this heinous act,” said a police spokesperson in a statement.
Chadeema’s Secretary of State, John Mnyasa, Party representative, Amani Golugwa, and head of communications, Brenda Rupia, are among those wanted for arrest.
The leader of Chadema, Tundu Lissu, was accused of treason in April and was not allowed to run in the elections. The exclusion of Lissu and other political figures from the ballot sparked subsequent protests.
According to Amnesty International, in the run-up to the elections, the Tanzanian authorities carried out enforced disappearances, arrests and extrajudicial killings.
Protests broke out on 29 October in cities across Tanzania, leading to violence and police beatings, authorities said.
Amnesty Internationalies said the authorities restricted access to the Internet and used excessive force in an attempt to suppress the post-election protests.
Rights groups say the government has clamped down on individuals seen as part of the protests, including prominent businesswoman Jenifer Jovin, who is accused of encouraging protesters to buy gas masks.
President Samia acknowledged that there had been deaths, but blamed the violence on foreigners, saying: “It is not surprising that those arrested are from other countries.”
Despite the protests, Samia was sworn into office on Monday. His inauguration ceremony was televised but closed to the public and held at a military ground in the capital.
The President was elected in 2021 and is the first female president of Tanzania. At the beginning he was praised by activists for erasing political repression, but has since been accused of changing course.