Western embassies in Tanzania, including the UK and France, are urging the government to release the bodies of those killed in October’s electoral violence to their families.
The call comes after credible reports of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and arbitrary arrests by Tanzanian authorities during the unrest.
The violence followed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s disputed presidential election win, where she secured nearly 98% of the vote.
Opposition parties denounced the election as a “mockery of democracy,” and hundreds were reportedly killed in the subsequent protests.
The Western embassies’ statement emphasizes the need for an independent investigation into the violence and calls for the release of political prisoners and access to legal and medical help for detainees.
The US government has also expressed concerns, reconsidering its relations with Tanzania due to the heavy-handed response to protesters.
