Tanzania urges citizens to stay home ahead of expected protests

Tanzania's government warned on Monday that protests scheduled for Tuesday would be illegal and amounted to an attempted coup, as security forces were heavily deployed in major cities.

Activists and opposition groups have called for anti-government protests on Tuesday, marking the anniversary of mainland Tanzania’s independence from Britain, following the violent suppression of demonstrations during October’s elections, in which the United Nations believes hundreds were killed.

"These protests are not permitted and are unlawful... this is not a protest, it is a coup," said Home Affairs Minister George Simbachawene during a media briefing in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. "Our security forces will manage them."

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged the authorities to respect fundamental rights ahead of the planned demonstrations. It called for the lifting of a nationwide ban on protests and warned against the excessive use of force.

"Security forces must allow Tanzanians to exercise their right to peaceful assembly and expression, and refrain from using force to disperse non-violent gatherings," said UN spokesperson Seif Magango in a statement on Friday.

Appeal to stay home

The October protests were sparked by the exclusion of prominent opposition candidates from the presidential election, which saw incumbent Samia Suluhu Hassan declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote.

The government has acknowledged that people were killed but has not provided its own death toll, rejecting allegations that police used excessive force.

In a video posted on X on Monday, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba urged citizens to stay at home, without directly addressing the planned protests. "The government advises all citizens who do not have an emergency on December 9 to rest and celebrate the day at home, except for those whose work requires them to be at their stations," he said.

The police stated on Friday that any demonstration would be illegal as authorities had not received formal notification from organisers.

Heavily armed police and military units were visible on Monday along major roads in Dar es Salaam and the northern city of Arusha, witnesses reported.

Hassan has appointed a commission to investigate election-related violence but has repeatedly denied allegations of excessive force by security forces, accusing protesters of attempting to overthrow the government.

Last week, the United States announced it was reviewing its relationship with Tanzania due to concerns about violence against civilians, as well as issues relating to religious freedom, free speech, and barriers to investment.

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