2025 Tanzanian election protests Tanzanian authorities charge hundreds of people with treason over protests linked to the disputed elections, including opposition...

Tanzanian authorities have charged hundreds of people with treason over demonstrations around disputed polls last month.

Mourners gather for the funeral of someone who died during post-electoral violence in Arusha, Tanzania, Tuesday, Nov.

A police officer stands at the door during the counting of votes at Haile Selassie polling station in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Wednesday, Oct.

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan appears in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus on April 15, 2022, in Washington.

NAIROBI, Kenya () — Authorities in Tanzania charged hundreds of people with treason over demonstrations around disputed polls last month, in a major escalation of political tension as the country reels from violence in which an unknown number of people were killed.

In addition to dozens criminally charged a day earlier in Dar es Salaam, dozens more face similar treason charges elsewhere in the East African nation, according to numerous charge sheets that became publicly available Saturday.

Wanted suspects include Josephat Gwajima, an influential preacher who had his church deregistered earlier this year after he criticized the government over rights abuses.

Police also issued arrest warrants for some of the top opposition officials who hadn’t yet been jailed.

They include Brenda Rupia, communications director for the Chadema opposition group, as well as John Mnyika, its secretary-general.

Its leader, Tundu Lissu, has been jailed for several months and also faces treason charges after he urged electoral reforms before voting on Oct.

Authorities face questions over the death toll after security forces tried to quell riots and opposition protests before and after the vote.

Chadema has claimed that more than 1,000 people were killed and that security forces were trying to hide the scale of the deaths by secretly disposing of the bodies.

The Catholic Church in Tanzania has said that hundreds were likely killed.

The political importance lies in whether the issue moves from public comment into formal action, party response, court record, election authority notice or administrative decision.

For public institutions and political groups, the next test is whether the issue remains a public argument or turns into a formal response, legal proceeding, administrative instruction or election-related communication.

The source page records the update at 08 Nov 2025, 08:40 AM, and the story should be followed for any later corrections or clarifications.