Tanzania has deployed the army to quell widespread unrest as protests over a disputed election entered their second day on Thursday.
Amnesty International confirmed that at least two people — a civilian and a police officer — have died since demonstrations erupted on Wednesday.
The government responded swiftly to the growing unrest by shutting down internet access, imposing a curfew, and sending soldiers to the streets of major cities, including the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has held power since independence in 1961, is seeking to extend its decades-long rule following Wednesday’s election.
However, the vote has been marred by controversy after presidential candidates from the two main opposition parties were disqualified, leaving President Samia Suluhu Hassan to face 16 lesser-known challengers who barely campaigned.
Early results announced by the electoral body on state television showed President Hassan leading with 96.99 percent of the votes from eight of 272 constituencies counted by Thursday morning.
Lawmakers from the European Parliament condemned the polls, describing them as “neither free nor fair,” and called on international partners to “stand firm in the defense of democracy and human rights.”
Tensions flared during the vote on Wednesday, with protesters torching a bus and a gas station, vandalizing polling centers, and attacking police stations.
Despite the government-imposed curfew in Dar es Salaam, demonstrations continued late into the night.
Authorities instructed public servants to work from home on Thursday to limit movement, while the army set up roadblocks nationwide, allowing passage only to essential workers.
In one incident, hundreds of protesters breached security barriers near the road leading to the main airport but were stopped by security forces before gaining entry.
Amnesty International has demanded an independent investigation into the alleged excessive use of force by police.
Reports indicate that several protesters were injured in Namanga, a border town with Kenya, where demonstrators lit bonfires on highways as police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Business owners in Namanga reported significant losses, saying the unrest had paralyzed commercial activities.
Ferry services between mainland Tanzania and the semiautonomous archipelago of Zanzibar — where election results are expected soon — were also suspended amid the chaos.
Tanzanians voted for a president, members of parliament, and ward councilors in Wednesday’s elections.
However, the process has been overshadowed by the imprisonment of key opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges after calling for electoral reforms.
Another opposition presidential hopeful, Luhaga Mpina, was barred from contesting.
The government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the casualties or the ongoing unrest.
