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A CNN investigation has uncovered evidence of deadly violence that broke out during protests after Tanzania’s presidential election.
CNN analysed geolocated videos, audio clips, satellite images, and witness statements, showing widespread unrest after President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with 98% of the vote on October 29. The exclusion of several major opposition candidates had already sparked tensions, leading to demonstrations across parts of the country.
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Verified footage reviewed by CNN shows morgues overwhelmed with bodies, matching accounts from witnesses who reported casualties during the chaos.
Satellite images reviewed by the network also reveal recently disturbed ground at Kondo cemetery, north of Dar es Salaam. Human rights groups and witnesses claim this may be where some protesters were buried.
Following the election, authorities imposed a curfew and shut down the internet. Even after partial restoration, police reportedly restricted the circulation of images and videos that could “cause panic.” Officials initially dismissed claims that anyone had died.
Last week, President Suluhu admitted that there had been fatalities but did not disclose numbers. She set up a commission to investigate and suggested that some demonstrators may have been influenced by outside payments.
According to CNN, Tanzanian authorities did not respond to their requests for comment.
The UN Human Rights Office, citing several sources, indicated that hundreds of civilians and protesters may have lost their lives, with many others injured or detained.
CNN and open-source researchers examined evidence from hospitals in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam, including photos and videos showing crowded morgues.
In Mwanza, images captured at least 10 bodies outside Sekou-Toure Regional Referral Hospital. A doctor there said they treated people with gunshot injuries over several days and that the morgue filled up quickly.
In Dar es Salaam, verified video from Mwananyamala Hospital showed multiple bodies on the floor, though the Ministry of Health rejected the footage as inauthentic. One woman told CNN she identified her brother among the deceased, saying he had been killed near their home during demonstrations.
Protests began soon after polls closed on October 29 and persisted in some regions for days. In Arusha, video verified by CNN appears to capture a pregnant woman and a young man being shot. Expert audio analysis suggested the shots were fired from a distance.
Drone footage also shows protesters running as armed men fired in populated areas, with some individuals in civilian clothing seen alongside uniformed officers in Ubungo.
Opposition leaders claim some bodies were taken to undisclosed locations, though this has not been independently proven.
Satellite images taken between November 2 and 15 show freshly dug soil at Kondo cemetery. Ground video from the site shows recently overturned sand, exposed roots, and pieces of fabric, which witnesses say indicate recent burials.
