European Union raises alarm over Tanzania election unrest
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 2, 2025The European Union has voiced deep concern over Tanzania’s disputed general election, calling for restraint from authorities and a transparent investigation into reports of violence, abductions and irregularities.
The statement comes as tensions remain high following the October 29, 2025, vote, which returned President Samia Suluhu Hassan to office in a landslide that the opposition has rejected.
In a statement issued in Brussels, on Sunday, November 2, 20245, the EU said it had taken note of the results announced by Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission and Zanzibar’s electoral body, but pointed to worrying developments on and after polling day. These included violence in several regions, an internet shutdown, and reports of interference in the electoral process.
“The EU is very concerned with the events that occurred throughout Election Day and that are still ongoing,” the statement said. “Reliable reports of a large number of fatalities and significant injuries are of extreme concern. The EU urges authorities to exercise maximum restraint to preserve human lives.”
Earlier, Amnesty International sounded an alarm over escalating repression.
EU condemns violent crackdown
The United Nations has confirmed at least 10 deaths. The government has dismissed the higher figures as exaggerated and defended its security response, saying it is necessary to maintain order.
The EU also raised the alarm over the political environment before the vote, saying the lack of a level playing field undermined the democratic process. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu was arrested earlier this year on treason charges, and his party boycotted the poll after failing to sign a code of conduct.
“There were reports of abductions, disappearances and violence limiting the civic and democratic space,” the EU statement noted.
It called for the release of detained politicians and said those arrested should receive fair trials based on solid legal grounds.
” The EU calls for the release of all detained politicians and for a transparent and fair trial of those arrested on a sound legal basis and for swift and thorough investigations into all reported incidents of abductions, disappearances and violence.”
Police say foreigners are entering TZ illegally
The tensions have grown further after Tanzanian police claimed that foreign nationals had entered the country illegally to fuel unrest. In a statement issued from Police Headquarters, the force said intelligence reports indicated that non-citizens had slipped in through unofficial routes, posing as boda boda riders in regions such as Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza and Songwe.
The authorities urged residents to report any unfamiliar foreign nationals they were hosting or living near, warning that anyone found harbouring such individuals without notifying officials would face legal consequences. Police said they were tracking the suspects and would take action under Tanzanian law.
The bloc encouraged the Tanzanian government to recommit to political dialogue, urging it to engage openly with opposition parties and civil society.
“The EU encourages the Government of Tanzania to continue its efforts towards the implementation of a fully-fledged multi-party system,” it said.
Tanzania is currently facing a nationwide curfew, disrupted transport and communication shutdowns, and food and fuel shortages in major cities. International flights have been cancelled in Dar es Salaam, while ferry and rail services have been halted. The United Kingdom has already advised its citizens against non-essential travel to the country.
Despite the tensions, the EU emphasised its desire to maintain its partnership with Tanzania under the EU-OACPS Samoa Agreement, which sets out cooperation priorities including good governance and human rights.