Event Summary
On 29 October 2025, Tanzania held its General Election to choose the President, Members of Parliament, and Councilors. The vote effectively marked the re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her second and final term under the Sixth Phase Government.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. as scheduled, with several top government officials and candidates casting their ballots early and praising the National Electoral Commission for its organization. However, the calm atmosphere shifted dramatically mid-morning when videos circulated online showing protests breaking out in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam. Police were seen firing tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
The protests quickly spread to other parts of the city, including Sinza, Tandale, Mwananyamala, Kimara, and Kibamba. By midday, reports of unrest had emerged from other regions, such as Songwe, Mwanza, Mara, and Mbeya, where police were accused of using excessive force to quell the demonstrations.
In an attempt to contain the situation, the government ordered a nationwide internet shutdown, citing security concerns. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, said the measure was necessary because “small groups of vandals were using the internet to incite chaos and destruction.”
The shutdown lasted from around noon on October 29 until 4:00 p.m. on November 3, 2025. Connectivity was restored after President Samia’s swearing-in ceremony for her second term, when she directed that “all services should return to normal.”
The move, however, drew criticism from human rights groups and opposition figures who argued that the shutdown violated citizens’ rights to access information and further deepened concerns over the credibility of an election already marred by arrests of opposition leaders and allegations of repression.