By Desmond Nleya
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzanian authorities have deployed military personnel and heavily armed police officers across Dar es Salaam and other major cities ahead of planned nationwide protests scheduled for 7 July, as tensions continue to rise over the country’s disputed 2025 general election.
The increased security presence follows the government’s decision last week to impose an indefinite ban on all political rallies, citing concerns over national security and public order. Officials have not indicated when the restrictions will be lifted.
Youth-led protest groups have vowed to proceed with demonstrations, demanding democratic reforms, greater political freedoms, and justice for victims who lost their lives during the violence that followed last year’s elections.
According to a government-appointed commission, at least 518 people were killed during the post-election unrest. However, opposition parties, religious leaders, and human rights organisations dispute that figure, alleging that security forces were responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.
The demonstrations stem from widespread anger over the exclusion of several prominent opposition candidates from the 2025 presidential election, which resulted in President Samia Suluhu Hassan securing nearly 98 percent of the vote.
President Hassan has maintained that the unrest was part of an attempt to destabilise and overthrow her government. Tanzanian authorities have also rejected accusations by international human rights groups that security forces used excessive force against protesters.
The planned protests are expected to coincide with the opening of the government-hosted Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, raising concerns over possible disruptions as security agencies remain on high alert.
