By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, December 8 2025 - The United Nations has urged Tanzanian authorities to protect civil liberties and ensure security forces act with restraint ahead of the planned 9 December demonstrations, even as the government and police move to outlaw the protests.
In a statement issued from Nairobi, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reminded the government of its responsibility to uphold freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
The appeal comes as the country grapples with the aftermath of the disputed 29 October general election, during which hundreds were reportedly killed and more than 2,000 people detained in a violent crackdown. Tanzanian authorities have not released verified casualty figures, deepening concerns over transparency.
Tensions escalated on Friday after the police declared the planned nationwide protests illegal. Police spokesperson David Misime said no formal notification had been received from organisers and accused those promoting the demonstrations online of encouraging acts that could disrupt essential services and paralyse economic activity.
“The Police Force is banning these demonstrations… from taking place,” Misime said, warning that security agencies were prepared to prevent any gatherings deemed unlawful. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who secured a landslide victory in an election that saw major opposition figures barred from running, has acknowledged the post-election turmoil and offered condolences to families who lost loved ones.
However, she has defended the security forces and insisted the government is ready for any further unrest. “We hear there is another one planned… whenever they come, we are prepared,” she said earlier in the week.
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The UN cautioned that expanding security deployments, fuel restrictions, digital surveillance and recent arrests of academics, activists and local politicians risk inflaming tensions rather than reducing them. It stressed that force must not be used against peaceful assemblies and that firearms can only be deployed as a last resort to prevent imminent threats to life.
The rights body called for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained and urged authorities to disclose the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. While noting the government’s establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the post-election violence, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said the investigation must be independent, impartial and transparent to restore public trust.
As Independence Day approaches, the standoff between protest organisers, security forces and international observers signals a critical test of Tanzania’s commitment to democratic freedoms and accountability.
