Amnesty International has accused Tanzanian security forces of using lethal force against protesters and of secretly moving bodies from hospital mortuaries, a development that has raised serious human rights concerns.
The rights group said its investigation uncovered widespread abuses during demonstrations that followed the country’s contested elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, Amnesty said the crackdown occurred between October 29 and November 3, 2025, and involved excessive use of force by police and other security officers.
The protests took place during a nationwide internet blackout, and reports indicate that hundreds of people were either killed or wounded.
According to Amnesty, both uniformed police and plain-clothed officers targeted protesters and bystanders with live bullets and teargas, even when there was no immediate threat.
Videos verified by Amnesty’s Evidence Lab showed victims lying motionless in streets, many with gunshot wounds consistent with military firearms.
Eyewitnesses told Amnesty that security forces threw teargas canisters directly into homes, putting children and other residents in danger. The organisation said these actions reflected a disregard for civilian safety and human life during the operations.
Between November 3 and 28, 2025, Amnesty documented abuses through 35 interviews with survivors of gunshot and teargas injuries, eyewitnesses, lawyers assisting arrested protesters, healthcare staff who treated the victims, and relatives of those killed.
Additionally, the Evidence Lab verified 26 videos and six photographs shared on social media or sent directly by trusted sources, showing the aftermath of the crackdown.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary-General, condemned the actions of the security forces. She said:
“The violence that security forces inflicted on protesters and other people who were just going about their daily lives was shocking and unacceptable, and yet another sign of growing intolerance in Tanzania.
Using live ammunition against unarmed protesters and bystanders posing no imminent threat to the lives of others is a blatant violation of the right to life. The evidence is clear: state security officials showed total disregard for people’s lives.”
Healthcare professionals interviewed in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza described hospitals overwhelmed with gunshot victims, including women, children, and men.
Mortuaries reportedly became full, with some bodies left on floors or stretchers. One health worker said that at Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital, about 70 corpses were stacked, with crows feeding on the remains.
Amnesty also reported that officers interfered with medical care, instructing staff to hand over seriously injured patients, particularly those wearing opposition CHADEMA party uniforms, for questioning.
Some victims were reportedly kept under police surveillance and faced treason charges, while others avoided treatment entirely out of fear of arrest.
Families of the deceased told Amnesty they were unable to locate the bodies of their loved ones, sometimes burying clothing or photographs instead. Hospital staff described a heavy police presence that prioritized certain patients and restricted staff from recording or speaking about what they witnessed.
The organisation noted that Tanzania’s president announced a commission of inquiry on November 14 to investigate the killings. However, members of civil society questioned whether it would operate independently.
Callamard said:
“The formation of the commission is the first of many steps that must be followed to deliver accountability. The authorities must now ensure that all investigations are independent, thorough, and impartial. No one should be shielded from justice: those who ordered, enabled, and used unlawful force must be held accountable regardless of their position. Every grieving family deserves answers, justice, and the chance to seek reparations. Anything less would be an exercise in whitewashing abuses.”
Amnesty called on the government to carry out impartial investigations and hold accountable anyone responsible for the unlawful use of force.
The organisation also demanded that all bodies be released to families for proper burials and cultural rites, warning that failing to do so would amount to whitewashing abuses.
“Even in death, these victims of police brutality cannot rest in peace. Amnesty International calls on the authorities to hand over the remains of all those killed in the protests and their aftermath to their relatives for a decent burial and the necessary rites,” Callamard said.
