Tanzania: President blames paid Groups for post-election protests
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has stated that the protests that took place on October 29, following the presidential elections, were orchestrated by groups that were allegedly paid to create unrest and destabilize the country.
President Samia made these remarks during a media briefing on Thursday at the State House in Chamwino, Dodoma, while launching a new commission tasked with investigating the post-election events.
She said the commission will examine the role of both domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations suspected of contributing to the unrest. She asked:"The youth who went into the streets to protest and demand their rights were paid. Where did that money come from?"
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She noted that the violence and brutality displayed by the protesters were unexpected, as Tanzania had long been known as a country with peace and security.
President Samia added that such events were unprecedented in a country with Tanzania’s history of stability and good social relations. She explained that the commission will thoroughly investigate the violence and submit a report to the government, providing a clear picture of what happened. She expressed hope that the findings would help the country restore political and security stability.
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President Samia won the election with 98% of the vote, though her victory was contested, with opposition parties accusing her of disqualifying strong rivals, preventing them from campaigning.
The post-election protests, which rejected the election results, claimed over 700 lives, according to the opposition party CHADEMA and human rights organizations.
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