UK, Canada, and 14 EU States Demand Independent Probe into Tanzania Election Violence

By : Mweru Mbugua 

The United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and 13 other European countries have jointly called for an independent investigation into the unrest following Tanzania’s recent elections, citing reports of deadly violence, disappearances, and widespread human rights violations

In a statement endorsed by the British and Canadian High Commissions, the Embassies of Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the EU Delegation, the nations expressed “deep regret” over the reported loss of lives and injuries

The statement referenced credible reports from domestic and international organizations documenting extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and concealed bodies

It emphasized the need for Tanzanian security forces to act with restraint and called on the government to respect international commitments to fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and access to information

The countries urged the Tanzanian government to release the bodies of those killed to their families, free political prisoners, and ensure legal and medical support for detainees

They also pressed authorities to implement recommendations from preliminary reports by the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), which highlighted significant shortcomings in the electoral process

 Also read : Ruto Appeals to Trump for Sudan Peace Amid DRC-Rwanda Accord Celebration

“We welcome the government’s recognition that understanding the root causes and circumstances of the violence, including deaths, is vital for justice and reconciliation,” the statement read

“Any inquiry must be independent, transparent, and inclusive, involving civil society, faith-based groups, and all political actors”

The call comes after President Samia Suluhu addressed the unrest, attributing it to foreign actors seeking to destabilize Tanzania

She extended condolences to families who lost loved ones, stressing, “When one Tanzanian sheds blood, we all feel the pain”