An independent investigation into post-election unrest in Tanzania found security forces and armed men firing on largely unarmed protesters after the October 29 vote. Verified videos, forensic audio and eyewitness accounts document fatal shootings and overcrowded morgues, while satellite imagery shows recently disturbed ground at Kondo cemetery consistent with reports of mass graves. The UN and human rights groups warn that hundreds may have been killed; the government has acknowledged casualties and launched an investigation but released no official toll.
After Tanzania Vote, Security Forces Fire on Protesters; Satellite Images and Videos Point to Possible Mass Graves
An independent investigation into post-election unrest in Tanzania found security forces and armed men firing on largely unarmed protesters after the October 29 vote. Verified videos, forensic audio and eyewitness accounts document fatal shootings and overcrowded morgues, while satellite imagery shows recently disturbed ground at Kondo cemetery consistent with reports of mass graves. The UN and human rights groups warn that hundreds may have been killed; the government has acknowledged casualties and launched an investigation but released no official toll.
04:46 PM, 11/21/2025Conflict
Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of violence and references to disturbing images.
In the chaotic days following Tanzania’s disputed presidential election on October 29, security forces and armed men on patrol opened fire on crowds of demonstrators, many of whom appeared unarmed or were carrying only rocks and sticks, an independent investigation has found.
Geolocated video footage, forensic audio analysis, satellite imagery and eyewitness testimony document a widespread and violent response to protests that erupted after President Samia Suluhu Hassan—who declared victory with 98% of the vote—barred key opponents from the race. Authorities imposed a curfew and an internet blackout as people gathered to contest the exclusion of opposition candidates.
Verified footage and forensic evidence
Investigators reviewed dozens of videos and still images showing civilians with gunshot wounds and morgues appearing overwhelmed in multiple cities. In Mwanza, geolocated images show at least 10 bodies stacked on a stretcher outside Sekou-Toure Regional Referral Hospital; in Dar es Salaam, footage from Mwananyamala Hospital shows numerous bodies piled in a morgue.
A forensic audio specialist, Rob Maher of Montana State University, analyzed the audio track of original footage from Arusha and estimated the distance between the shooter and the camera in two deadly incidents to be roughly 112 meters (367 feet) and 95 meters (312 feet), respectively. Those calculations align with the visible positions of armed officers in the videos.
Incidents documented in Arusha
One verified video shows a group of young demonstrators confronted by approximately 10 armed officers. Shortly after a rock is thrown, bursts of gunfire send protesters running. A woman wearing a lavender top and hat—holding a stick and a rock—was struck from behind while fleeing and later died; sources close to her family say she was three months pregnant. Minutes later, another protester was filmed collapsing with a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses say both presented no clear threat when they were shot.
"Oh my God, this is our Tanzania," a bystander is heard saying in one recording as a wounded man lies in a pool of blood.
Plainclothes assailants and coordinated operations
Separate clips geolocated to Dar es Salaam show plainclothes men disembarking from white pickup trucks and firing in civilian neighborhoods. Drone footage from the Segerea/Tabata Road area captures armed individuals exiting a pickup, moving through residential courtyards and opening fire while uniformed officers are seen operating nearby in other recordings.
Local groups reported specific victims: Viral Scout Management, a sports consultancy, said seven young soccer players under contract were shot and killed at home, and later reported that six of those bodies could not be located.
Allegations of mass graves at Kondo cemetery
Human rights groups and local sources reported that some bodies were buried in a mass grave at Kondo cemetery in the Kunduchi area north of Dar es Salaam. High-resolution satellite imagery from Planet Labs and Vantor dated November 9 and 15 shows disturbed ground in a barren patch about 60 meters from marked graves; Sentinel-2 imagery indicates digging occurred between November 2 and November 5. Ground video obtained after the soil was turned up shows sandy, overturned spots with items resembling pieces of fabric in places, though the precise cause of the disturbance remains under investigation.
Official responses and international concern
Authorities initially denied killings had occurred. When connectivity was partially restored, police restricted sharing of images and video they said could "cause panic." The president later acknowledged casualties and announced a commission to investigate the unrest, while suggesting some protesters may have been paid. No official casualty figures have been released.
The United Nations Human Rights Office, citing multiple domestic sources, has indicated that hundreds of protesters and other civilians may have been killed, with many more injured or detained. Opposition leaders and rights groups have called for a transparent, international inquiry.
What remains unresolved
Investigators continue to verify footage and cross-reference witness accounts, audio analysis and satellite data. Families across the country report missing relatives and difficulty locating bodies. The events have raised serious questions about crowd-control tactics, the role of plainclothes armed groups, and the handling of victims’ remains.
Named sources in this report include open-source investigator Benjamin Strick and forensic audio analyst Rob Maher. Other details are based on verified footage, satellite data and interviews with witnesses and medical personnel who requested anonymity for safety.