By John Mutiso
The United States has announced that it is “comprehensively reviewing” its relationship with the Government of Tanzania following actions surrounding the disputed October 29 elections.
In a statement attributed to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott, the US explained that the review was prompted by the Tanzanian government’s ongoing repression of religious freedom and free speech, persistent obstacles to US investment, and concerning violence against civilians in the days before and after the elections.
The statement noted that the US cannot ignore actions that jeopardise the safety of its citizens or the security and stability of the region. Consequently, the future of America’s bilateral relationship with Tanzania “will be based on its actions.”
“These actions have put American citizens, tourists, and US interests in Tanzania at risk, and threatened to undermine the mutual prosperity and security that have defined our partnership for decades,” the statement said.
It added: “The United States values its longstanding partnership with the people of Tanzania, which has brought prosperity to our populations and security to the region. Recent actions by the government of Tanzania, however, raise grave concerns about the direction of our bilateral relationship and the reliability of the Tanzanian Government as a partner.”
Systematic human rights violations
The US statement came hours after UN human rights experts condemned what they described as widespread and systematic human rights violations in Tanzania following the general elections.
The experts said the violations included allegations of hundreds of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and mass arbitrary detentions targeting protesters, opposition figures, and civil society across the country.
In their statement, the experts estimated that at least 700 people were extrajudicially killed after the elections, though other estimates suggest thousands of potential victims.
Chilling reports allege that bodies have disappeared from morgues and that human remains are being incinerated or buried in unmarked mass graves.
“Family members who identified remains were reportedly forced to sign false statements about the cause of death to receive the bodies. 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,” the experts said.
Restrictions on media coverage
They added: “All restrictions on media coverage must be lifted, as they are incompatible with Tanzania’s international obligations.”
The experts also highlighted that the complete internet shutdown imposed from October 29 to November 3, 2025, “severely curtailed the ability of human rights defenders and journalists to carry out their work and document violations.”
They urged the Tanzanian government to conduct a “prompt, impartial, independent, thorough, and effective investigation into all reported killings, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations.”
