US Senators Push for Review of US–Tanzania Relations After Post-Election Bloodshed

Two senior U.S. senators have urged Washington to reassess its relationship with Tanzania following what they describe as a deeply compromised election marred by repression, abductions and lethal force against protesters

In a joint statement, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Jim Risch and Senator Jeanne Shaheen condemned Tanzania’s October 29 election, saying it sharply deviated from democratic norms

They noted that public outrage over the disputed polls spilled into the streets only to be met with deadly state force

“On Wednesday, October 29th, Tanzania held elections marred by state-sponsored political repression, targeted abductions and manipulation. Tanzania’s election was decided well before October 29th,” the senators stated

They added that Tanzanians protesting the results were met with “heavy-handed security responses” that caused the deaths of hundreds, alongside widespread abductions and detentions

The unrest, they said, represented “an unprecedented level of violence” in modern Tanzanian history and was compounded by nationwide internet shutdowns that disrupted business and isolated citizens

According to the senators, the ruling party has fostered an environment of fear that poses risks not only to Tanzania but also to neighbouring countries. They stressed that this shift away from democratic governance requires a serious reassessment of U.S.–Tanzania relations

“For decades, the U.S.-Tanzania relationship has been built on shared democratic values, global security, economic prosperity, and strategic investment

Tanzania’s continued pivot from the rule of law, reform, and good governance demands a genuine assessment of the U.S. bilateral relationship with Tanzania,” the statement read

Their remarks came a day after President Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered an inquiry into the killings that occurred during violent protests that followed her landslide victory, in which she was declared the winner with 98 percent of the vote

 Also read : Samia Suluhu Orders Probe into Deadly Election Protests, Signals Leniency for Youth Charged with Treason

Addressing parliament, Hassan said she was “deeply saddened” by the deaths and directed security agencies to exercise leniency toward some of the hundreds of protesters facing treason charges

Rights groups report that thousands were killed in the unrest, driven by allegations of large-scale rigging, disqualification of opposition candidates, and a sweeping internet blackout

Hassan, who rose to power in 2021 after the death of President John Magufuli, was initially praised for easing restrictions on the opposition and media. However, political repression intensified again in 2024, with a surge in kidnappings and killings targeting critics of the government

Writer : Mweru Mbugua