Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced a new investigation on Friday, August 7, into who was behind the violence surrounding the country’s October 2025 general election, in which hundreds of people died.
Western diplomats and rights groups have accused Hassan’s government of killing hundreds of people during the post-election unrest, as well as abducting and murdering critics in the lead-up to the vote.
What the first investigation found
An earlier government-appointed inquiry, which submitted its findings in April, confirmed at least 518 deaths during and after the election, a vote Hassan was declared to have won with 98% support.
That number is disputed. Opposition parties and religious groups say thousands were killed by security forces, while Western diplomats have estimated the death toll at between 1,000 and 2,000.
The initial inquiry stopped short of naming those responsible, but recommended a criminal investigation to “identify the main perpetrators” and “recommend accountability steps.”
A new commission, with international Judges
Announcing the new investigation at a brief function at Dar es Salaam State House, Hassan said the commission would dig deeper into who instigated the violence, who took part in it, and who financed it.
“This commission will conduct a deeper investigation to determine who instigated the violence, who participated in it and who financed the events that occurred in our country,” she said.
The six-person commission has been given five months to complete its work and submit a report, though Hassan said the deadline could be extended if more time is needed.
To strengthen the investigation’s credibility and independence, the panel includes judges from Uganda and Namibia.
“We decided to involve our colleagues so that we can obtain a broader perspective,” Hassan said. “We therefore invited one judge from the East African region and another from the Southern African Development Community.”
She called on Tanzanians to cooperate with the commission and allow it to carry out its work without interference.