A group of 17 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and 14 European Union member states, have called for an independent investigation into the violence that followed Tanzania’s recent elections.
In a joint statement, the countries expressed deep concern over reports of deadly clashes, disappearances, and widespread human rights violations after the polls. The statement was endorsed by the British and Canadian High Commissions as well as the embassies of Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the EU Delegation.
The nations said they “deeply regret” the loss of lives and injuries and referenced earlier warnings from the EU High Representative and a similar joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Norway, and the UK.
According to credible reports from both local and international observers, the violence involved extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and the hiding of bodies.
The countries urged Tanzanian authorities to:
Release bodies of victims to their families,
Free all political detainees,
Provide legal and medical support to those arrested, and
Implement recommendations from the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which raised concerns about the credibility of the election.
They insisted that any investigation must be independent, transparent, and inclusive, involving civil society, religious leaders, and all political groups.
President Samia Responds
Earlier this week, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu addressed the unrest, blaming foreign actors for influencing the violence. She said outsiders who are “irritated by Tanzania’s stability” were trying to destabilize the nation.
Samia sent condolences to families who lost loved ones, saying that when any Tanzanian is harmed, the entire nation feels the pain. She emphasized that Tanzania has enjoyed peace for many years and vowed to protect the country from any attempts to disrupt it.
The international call for an investigation adds pressure on the Tanzanian government as the country deals with ongoing tension and demands for transparency from both local and global communities.
