CNN Investigation Exposes Tanzania Police Killings, Mass Graves Amid Post-Election Crackdown

A shocking CNN investigation has revealed widespread killings of protesters by uniformed police during Tanzania’s October 2025 elections, with evidence pointing to overflowing morgues and possible mass graves near Dar es Salaam

The revelations come amid strict censorship by President Samia Suluhu’s administration, which barred foreign media from entering the country, shut down the internet, and silenced local journalists during the unrest

According to the CNN report published on November 21, forensic analysis, verified videos, satellite imagery, and eyewitness accounts confirm that state police used live ammunition on civilians protesting the disputed election

The presidential poll held on October 29 was widely condemned after opposition candidates were blocked from running, resulting in President Samia claiming victory with 98% of the vote

Opposition leaders allege that more than 700 people were killed by November 1. Although the government dismissed the claims as propaganda, CNN’s evidence suggests the toll may indeed be high

Verified footage showed police firing at unarmed crowds, with hospitals reporting that bodies were quietly removed from morgues by security officers. In one disturbing case, a pregnant woman her family’s sole breadwinner was shot in the back as she fled, despite posing no threat

Satellite images analyzed by CNN revealed large patches of freshly dug soil at Kondo Cemetery, north of Dar es Salaam. The findings are consistent with reports that bodies were buried in mass graves to cover up the extent of the violence

This investigation follows a similar exposé by BBC Swahili, which confirmed widespread killings in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Sinza, and other regions

 Also read : Museveni Holds Talks with Mudavadi Amid Diplomatic Tension Over Indian Ocean Remarks

BBC journalists authenticated viral protest videos using satellite data, finding no evidence of manipulation

Witnesses told the BBC that police shot women and youths at close range, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties and unable to keep track of those killed or disappeared

Throughout the crisis, the Tanzanian government denied any fatalities, dismissed allegations of excessive force, and threatened citizens against sharing “disturbing” images online

As international pressure mounts, human rights organizations are calling for independent investigations into the killings, the alleged mass graves, and the government’s attempts to conceal the atrocities

Both CNN and the BBC have emphasized that many victims were young, unarmed civilians exercising their right to protest raising serious concerns over state-sponsored human rights violations in one of East Africa’s most influential nations

Writer : Mweru Mbugua