Recognize the Tanzania Massacre

Recognize the Tanzania Massacre I am writing to raise urgent concerns about credible reports of widespread political violence in Tanzania following its presidential election on October 29, 2025. Eyewitness accounts, humanitarian organizations, and independent media investigations consistently describe security forces using live ammunition against civilians, including peaceful protesters and people inside their homes. Many victims were reportedly shot in the head or chest at close range, suggesting unlawful killings rather than crowd-control measures. Investigative reporting has documented possible mass graves on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. Satellite imagery, geolocated video, and on-the-ground testimony point to fresh burial sites and soil disturbances consistent with rapid, concealed burials. Medical personnel from several major hospitals have also reported receiving large numbers of bodies with severe gunshot wounds immediately after the election. These accounts match widespread civilian reports that bodies were removed in trucks, hidden, or destroyed to prevent documentation. Compounding the crisis, the Tanzanian government reportedly imposed an internet blackout and restricted local media during the height of the violence. This severely limited the ability of citizens, journalists, and civil society groups to record events, seek help, or communicate safely. In the aftermath, more than 200 individuals—including activists and opposition figures—have reportedly been arrested and charged with treason, raising fears that the government is targeting political dissent rather than pursuing accountability. Tens of thousands of people across the globe have signed petitions calling for an independent international investigation. Many Tanzanians, including survivors, families, and members of the diaspora, are pleading for international oversight through bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Union, and the East African Community to ensure transparency and protect witnesses. Given the severity and credibility of these allegations, I respectfully urge you to take the following actions: support U.S. diplomatic pressure on Tanzania to allow a fully independent investigation; advocate for targeted sanctions against individuals credibly implicated in ordering or carrying out excessive force; ensure that non-humanitarian aid is conditioned on transparency, accountability, and cooperation with investigators; and issue a public statement supporting the protection of survivors, witnesses, and civil society members. The United States has long stood for democratic principles and human rights. I ask for your leadership to help ensure that the truth is established, accountability is pursued, and further violence is prevented in Tanzania.