Dar es Salaam under curfew as protests erupt on election day — what we know

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tanzania’s general election was marred by unrest on Wednesday 29 October 2025 as crowds took to the streets in several cities and police ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the country’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. Authorities also deployed military units, and internet access appeared disrupted as security forces moved to clear protests that broke out amid widespread anger over the exclusion and jailing of major opposition figures.

How the day unfolded

Polling opened for more than 37 million registered voters across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Early in the afternoon, reports from Dar es Salaam and other urban centres said groups of demonstrators — many chanting against the government and tearing down campaign posters — clashed with police. In parts of Kimara, Ubungo, Magomeni and Tandale, local media and reporters on the ground described burning of a bus and at least one petrol station and incidents of vandalism near polling sites. In response, police announced a 6 p.m. curfew for Dar es Salaam, telling residents to stay off the streets.

Officials in Dodoma (the administrative capital) and Zanzibar also increased security deployments; journalists and independent observers reported military vehicles on city streets in some areas. NetBlocks and other internet-monitoring groups registered significant disruptions to mobile and fixed internet access during the afternoon and evening, making independent verification of events difficult at times.

Why people protested

The demonstrations followed weeks and months of mounting tension. The lead-up to the vote saw prominent opposition figures arrested, detained or disqualified from standing, and rights groups warned that a climate of intimidation had hollowed out meaningful contestation. Activists and opposition supporters accused the government of using broad security and cybercrime laws to silence critics and remove credible challengers from the ballot — charges the government has denied.

The exclusion and detention of leading opposition voices left a field that many local and international observers say lacks genuine competition. That perception — together with long-running grievances over governance and rights — fuelled protests on election day in multiple neighbourhoods.

Security response and official lines

Inspector General of Police Camillus Wambura announced the curfew via state media and said security forces would “restore order” in affected areas. Regional officials said they were prepared to confront “disruptors of peace” and urged citizens to remain calm and abide by the curfew. The government has framed its actions as necessary to protect voters and property; critics say the security posture amounts to an attempt to suppress dissent.

Human rights groups and international reaction

Human rights organisations that have been monitoring Tanzania’s political climate issued warnings in recent weeks about arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and restrictions on civic space. Amnesty International and other groups released detailed briefings documenting what they describe as a systematic effort to limit opposition activity ahead of the vote. Those groups urged restraint from both protesters and security forces and called for independent investigations into any abuses.

International reactions in the immediate hours were measured: some embassies issued travel and security advisories for their citizens, while regional bodies noted concerns and said they would follow the situation closely. Several established international news organisations and agencies are still gathering verified casualty and detention figures.

Impact on voting and turnout

On the ground reporting from multiple news agencies suggested turnout was uneven. In some urban polling stations there were long queues in the morning, while several other areas recorded lower participation or disruptions that delayed voting. Given the internet disruptions and curfew, verifying comprehensive turnout data in real time will be difficult; Tanzania’s electoral commission indicated it intends to publish results within days as required by electoral law.

What to watch for next

1. Official results and timetable — the electoral commission has said preliminary counts will be issued within the legally prescribed window; how it handles contested reports and whether independent observers are allowed full access will shape domestic and international acceptance.
2. Reports of human rights abuses — Amnesty International and other monitors have already flagged patterns worth investigating; any confirmed cases of extrajudicial actions, enforced disappearances or deaths will raise the stakes.
3. Further unrest or calm — whether the curfew and deployments restore order or whether protests spread will determine the security and political trajectory after polling closes.