A coalition of African civil society organisations has accused Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan of presiding over what they call a “state-engineered massacre,” claiming that more than 3,000 people have been killed and thousands remain missing after violent crackdowns on protesters and dissenters across the country.
The statement, made under the Jumuiya Ni Yetu movement and the Pan-African Solidarity Collective, paints a grim picture of fear, death, and intimidation allegedly driven by state security forces acting under the president’s watch.
In the strongly worded statement, the coalition demanded that President Suluhu “step down immediately” and face prosecution for crimes against humanity. “President Samia Suluhu must step down immediately. She lacks legitimacy, has lost the moral mandate to govern, and now presides over mass atrocities,” the statement reads.
The groups accuse the Tanzanian government of using the police, intelligence officers, and military units to suppress protests, abduct opposition figures, and intimidate activists, leaving citizens living in fear and uncertainty.
The joint declaration, endorsed by more than 40 organisations across Africa, including those from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Senegal, highlights what it describes as ongoing human rights violations that have gone unchecked by regional bodies.
The groups further allege that media outlets and journalists who attempt to expose the violence have faced threats, censorship, or forced exile. Many activists have reportedly fled the country, while families of missing persons continue to search for answers amid widespread silence from authorities.
The coalition also called for an immediate political transition, urging the creation of an interim government to restore public confidence and prepare the country for credible elections under independent oversight.
They say the Suluhu administration has failed to uphold democratic principles and has instead deepened state control through intimidation and brutality.
The statement adds that regional governments have remained silent out of fear or political convenience, allowing the situation to worsen.
“Tanzania is experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe, and although the dictators of the region are collaborating to spill more blood, the citizens of the region will not enable another blood-soaked crisis,” the statement adds.
The coalition urged international organisations, including the African Union and the United Nations, to intervene and investigate the alleged killings, warning that continued silence could lead to even more loss of life.
The accusations have put President Suluhu’s administration under intense scrutiny both at home and abroad.
The pressure is mounting for Tanzania to open up to independent investigations and allow justice for the thousands who have allegedly suffered under state repression.
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