Tanzania Hires Washington Lobbyist to Counter Scrutiny After Deadly Post-Election Unrest

The Tanzanian government has begun recruiting a Washington-based lobbyist to "shape its narrative" on Capitol Hill and internationally as the East African nation confronts its most serious political crisis in decades following the Oct. 29 elections.

According to UN reporting, hundreds of people protesting the electoral process have been killed or detained since the vote. The United States State Department said on Dec. 4 it was reviewing its relationship with Tanzania, citing concerns about religious freedom, free speech, obstacles to U.S. investment and violence against civilians.

Government Response And Lobbying Push

A request for proposals circulated in Washington in early December seeks communications and congressional-relations support to bolster Tanzania’s ties on the Hill and to deploy media expertise to counter reports of repression and alleged religious persecution — claims that Tanzanian authorities deny.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote after several leading opposition figures were excluded from the presidential ballot, has set up a commission to investigate election-related violence. The government has acknowledged fatalities during the unrest but has not released an official death toll, and it rejects allegations that police used excessive force.

Allegations From UN Experts And International Critics

"The government must provide information on the fate and whereabouts of all disappeared persons and ensure the identification and dignified return of the remains to their families," UN human-rights experts said after receiving reports that some victims’ remains were buried in unidentified mass graves or incinerated after disappearing from mortuaries.

On Dec. 9, Sen. Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the Tanzanian government had "offered no credible explanation for its own election-related crackdown" and alleged that Christian leaders faced deadly attacks and abductions.

Security Measures And Domestic Impact

Authorities recently banned planned protests and canceled the Dec. 9 Independence Day celebrations, urging citizens to remain indoors. Reports from major cities described heavy security presence and generally quiet streets as officers enforced the bans.

Political Risks, Diplomacy And Investment

Tanzanian officials appear intent on getting ahead of potential diplomatic consequences by engaging Washington-based communications help. Dodoma has maintained a resident U.S. ambassador since 2021 but, according to U.S. filings, has not employed a full-time Washington lobbyist for more than a decade.

Analysts caution that hiring lobbyists may ease messaging but does not guarantee avoidance of diplomatic sanctions or reduced investment flows. Some investors and legal advisers argue that Tanzania’s long-term macroeconomic fundamentals remain intact: the country has sustained roughly 5–6% GDP growth for more than a decade, supported by a young, expanding population and rising domestic demand.

"Today’s challenges won’t erase Tanzania’s long-term fundamentals; they simply make the opportunity more visible for those who take a long view," wrote Michael Strain, managing partner at Bowmans Tanzania, in a LinkedIn post.

Independent Reporting

A BBC Verify investigation used open-source intelligence, satellite imagery and data analysis to produce an in-depth account alleging that police used lethal force to suppress election protests.

As Washington weighs its response, Tanzania’s move to recruit communications support underscores how information strategy and diplomatic outreach have become central to managing both domestic unrest and international perceptions.