Tanzania police seek to arrest opposition leaders after protests

8/11/2025 17:44

Tanzania is seeking to arrest senior opposition figures it blames for deadly protests that swept the country during last week's presidential and parliamentary elections.



The main opposition party, CHADEMA, and some human rights activists say security forces killed more than 1,000 people. The government has called those numbers exaggerated without offering its own death toll.



Police on Saturday listed 10 people who are wanted in connection with their investigation of the unrest, a day after prosecutors charged 145 people with treason.



"The police force, in collaboration with other defence and security agencies, is continuing a serious manhunt to find all who planned, coordinated and executed this evil act," the spokesman for the police said in a statement.



Those being sought for arrest include CHADEMA's secretary general, John Mnyika, his deputy Amaan Golugwa and the party's head of communications, Brenda Rupia, the statement said.



Neither CHADEMA, nor the individual officials, were immediately available to comment on the statement by the police.



CHADEMA's leader, Tundu Lissu, was charged with treason in April, and his exclusion from the ballot, along with another leading opposition contender, has largely driven the protests.