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Per the leading rival faction, about 700 individuals have allegedly been slain during 72 hours of election-related clashes in Tanzania.

Clashes Erupts on Voting Day

Demonstrations broke out on election day over claims that activists called the stifling of the opposition after the disqualification of major candidates from the presidential race.

Fatality Numbers Claimed

An rival official claimed that numerous of civilians had been lost their lives since the unrest began.

"As we speak, the number of deaths in the port city is around 350 and for another city it is over 200. Including figures from other places throughout the nation, the final count is around 700," he stated.

The spokesperson mentioned that the number could be even larger because deaths could be occurring during a night-time restriction that was enforced from election day.

Additional Estimates

• An official source reportedly mentioned there had been accounts of exceeding 500 dead, "perhaps 700-800 in the whole country."
• Amnesty International reported it had gathered data that no fewer than 100 civilians had been lost their lives.
• Rival groups asserted their estimates had been collected by a group of activists going to hospitals and health centers and "counting fatalities."

Calls for Intervention

The opposition demanded the government to "cease harming our demonstrators" and demanded a transitional government to pave the way for just and transparent polls.

"End violence. Uphold the voice of the people which is electoral justice," the spokesperson said.

Authorities Measures

Officials reacted by enforcing a curfew. Internet disruption were also noted, with international monitors reporting it was countrywide.

The following day, the army chief criticized the unrest and called the activists "offenders". The official said authorities would attempt to manage the situation.

Global Reaction

The UN human rights office said it was "worried" by the casualties in the protests, adding it had gathered information that no fewer than 10 people had been slain by law enforcement.

The office stated it had collected trustworthy information of casualties in the port city, in Shinyanga and Morogoro, with officials using real bullets and teargas to break up protesters.

Legal View

A human rights attorney claimed it was "unreasonable" for authorities to employ violence, noting that the country's leader "ought to refrain from sending the law enforcement against the civilians."

"She should heed the citizens. The mood of the country is that there was an unfair process … We cannot vote for only one option," the lawyer stated.