Tanzanian police have announced that any protests planned for the upcoming Independence Day on December 9th are illegal.
Authorities stated that the organizers of these protests are inciting participants to seize property, disrupt hospital services, and block streets to paralyze economic activity. The announcement has raised concerns about potential clashes, following post-election violence last month.
That violence occurred after President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s victory in the October presidential election, which was contested after her main rivals were disqualified. International rights organizations reported that hundreds of people were killed and thousands more were arrested in the aftermath.
On Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Commission reminded Tanzanian authorities of their obligation to ensure the right to peaceful assembly. The commission urged security forces to refrain from using force and to make every effort to de-escalate tensions.
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