Tanzanian authorities are urging citizens to remain indoors on Tuesday, declaring that planned Independence Day protests are illegal and amount to an attempted coup. The demonstrations were called by activists and opposition groups in response to the violent suppression of protests during October’s presidential election, unrest that rights advocates say left hundreds dead and thousands detained.
Home Affairs Minister George Simbachawene insisted Monday that the planned demonstrations would not be tolerated. “Those protests are not permitted and are unlawful … that is not a protest, that is a coup,” he said during a media briefing in Dar es Salaam. “Our security organs will handle them.”
Police reiterated last week that any gathering would be deemed illegal, saying they had received no formal notification from organizers. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba also issued a warning in a video released Monday, advising citizens to stay home on December 9 unless they have urgent business.
At least 10 activists and opposition supporters have been arrested over online posts connected to the planned protests, authorities confirmed. Witnesses reported heavy police and military deployments in major urban centers, including Dar es Salaam and Arusha, ahead of the expected demonstrations.
The United Nations has urged the Tanzanian government to uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and cautioned security forces against excessive use of force.
The unrest follows October’s disputed election, in which leading opposition candidates were barred from running and President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured nearly 98 percent of the vote. The government admits there were fatalities during the post-election turmoil but denies allegations of disproportionate force. President Hassan has appointed a commission to investigate the violence but maintains that protesters were attempting to overthrow the government rather than exercise their right to dissent.
