Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced an official investigation into the unrest that broke out during election week, following accusations that her government was responsible for violently crushing historic protests.
The protests were sparked by her re-election with 98% of the vote, a result the opposition has denounced as a “mockery of democracy”.
In her address to parliament, President Samia urged prosecutors to consider reducing or dropping charges for individuals who may have been swept up in the unrest without fully understanding their actions.
She also called on political parties to meet and discuss how to conduct politics without causing harm to the country.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, had earlier urged Tanzanian authorities to conduct a full and transparent investigation into reports of killings and other serious human rights violations during and after the October 29 elections.
The opposition claims hundreds may have died in post-election unrest, while the authorities have yet to release an official death toll.
