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Per the chief opposition party, approximately 700 civilians have reportedly been killed during 72 hours of election-related protests in Tanzania.

Unrest Starts on Election Day

Unrest started on election day over what protesters called the suppression of the opposition after the removal of major hopefuls from the presidential race.

Casualty Estimates Claimed

An opposition spokesperson announced that scores of civilians had been lost their lives since the protests started.

"As we speak, the death toll in the port city is about 350 and for another city it is 200-plus. Including figures from other places around the nation, the total figure is nearly 700," the spokesperson said.

He noted that the death count could be much higher because deaths might be occurring during a evening curfew that was enforced from election day.

Additional Reports

• An official insider reportedly claimed there had been reports of over 500 deaths, "perhaps 700-800 in the whole country."
• The human rights organization reported it had obtained data that no fewer than 100 individuals had been killed.
• The opposition claimed their numbers had been compiled by a team of activists attending hospitals and health clinics and "tallying the deceased."

Demands for Change

Rival officials demanded the authorities to "cease killing our demonstrators" and called for a interim administration to pave the way for free and fair votes.

"Halt violence. Uphold the voice of the public which is democratic rights," the spokesperson declared.

Government Reaction

The government reacted by imposing a curfew. Internet disruption were also observed, with global watchdogs reporting it was countrywide.

The following day, the army chief criticized the violence and labeled the activists "offenders". The official said security forces would seek to manage the situation.

International Response

The UN human rights office stated it was "alarmed" by the fatalities and harm in the unrest, noting it had received accounts that a minimum of 10 civilians had been lost their lives by authorities.

The organization reported it had obtained reliable accounts of deaths in Dar es Salaam, in a northwestern region and an eastern area, with officials using gunfire and chemical irritants to disperse crowds.

Expert Opinion

A human rights attorney claimed it was "unacceptable" for security agencies to use force, stating that the nation's president "should refrain from using the police against the civilians."

"The president should heed the public. The feeling of the country is that there was no fair vote … We are unable to vote for a single contender," the lawyer stated.