Tanzanian authorities have formally charged 76 individuals with treason, court documents revealed Friday, in the wake of widespread unrest linked to the country’s highly disputed October 29 general election.
The court filings allege the suspects attempted to obstruct the vote “for the purpose of intimidating authorities in the Salam.” In addition to treason, a charge that can carry the death penalty, all 76 also face counts of criminal conspiracy.
The legal action follows an election that has drawn significant criticism from international observers and human rights organizations. Reports from the period leading up to and following the vote detailed a climate of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
The election was marred by opposition protests and violent clashes with security forces across parts of the country. The main opposition party, CHADMA, has made grave allegations regarding the government’s response, claiming that more than 1,000 people were killed during the crackdown on demonstrators. The party has further alleged that bodies were secretly disposed of to conceal the death toll.
The government has repeatedly denied these accusations.
According to the official tally, President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a landslide victory with over 97% of the vote. However, this outcome came after key opposition candidates were barred from running, a move that further fueled claims of an undemocratic process.
The treason charges represent a significant escalation in the government’s response to the post-election turmoil, raising widespread concern about the state of democracy and human rights in the East African nation.