Tanzania was under lockdown and a communications blackout on Thursday, a day after general elections descended into violent chaos, with unconfirmed reports suggesting dozens may have been killed.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan had sought to consolidate power and quell internal dissent within her ruling party through the virtually uncontested polls, which saw key opposition figures either jailed or disqualified.

In the lead-up to the vote, rights groups had condemned what they called a “wave of terror” across the East African nation, citing a series of abductions that intensified in the final days before polling.

Despite a heavy security presence on Wednesday, hundreds of protesters gathered in Dar es Salaam and other cities, chanting “We want our country back.” Unverified images shared on social media showed the demonstrations escalating throughout the day, with reports of police using live ammunition near polling stations, police vehicles, and businesses linked to the ruling party.

A diplomatic source told AFP that the unrest continued into the night despite a police-imposed curfew. The source also confirmed that an internet blackout persisted into Thursday, with the army and police establishing checkpoints around major cities, including Dar es Salaam.

Schools and colleges were closed, and civil servants were instructed to work from home, according to an AFP reporter.

The government has yet to issue a statement, and Tanzania’s heavily restricted local media have remained silent on the unrest, offering no updates on the elections or the violence.

Unverified reports suggest that more than 30 people may have been killed in Wednesday’s clashes, though these figures could not be independently confirmed. “It’s unprecedented… Where we go from here is unclear,” said the diplomatic source, describing Hassan’s political future as “uncertain.”

Unrest was also reported in the western region of Songwe and the northern tourist hub of Arusha. Foreign journalists were reportedly barred from traveling to mainland Tanzania to cover the polls.

Anger Mounts Against President’s Inner Circle

Much of the online outrage has been directed at President Hassan’s son, Abdul Hassan, who is reportedly heading an “informal task force” made up of police and intelligence officers overseeing election security, according to Africa Intelligence. The task force has been blamed for a surge in abductions of government critics in the days leading up to the election, including that of popular influencer Niffer, who was accused of promoting protests through satirical videos.

Since taking office in 2021 following the sudden death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, President Hassan has faced opposition from within the ruling party and segments of the military.

Rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the escalating violence. The organization said it had verified at least two deaths from circulating videos and images, calling the situation “deeply disturbing” and warning that the “risk of further escalation is high.”

An opposition member from the Chadema party told AFP they had received reports of at least four deaths, though they could not confirm the exact number.

Hassan, celebrated early in her tenure for easing restrictions on opposition and media, has since faced mounting criticism for what Amnesty described as a “wave of terror” marked by “enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures and activists.”

Her main rival, Tundu Lissu, remains on trial for treason and faces the death penalty, while Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo the only other significant challenger was disqualified on technical grounds.

EU Parliament Condemns ‘Collapse of Democracy’

In a joint statement issued Thursday, senior members of the European Parliament condemned the Tanzanian elections, calling them neither free nor fair and urging global partners to “stand firm in defense of democracy and human rights.”

The statement was co-signed by David McAllister; Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affair, Mounir Satouri; Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Merja Kyllönen; Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Pan-African Parliament said “What should have been a celebration of democracy instead unfolded in an atmosphere of repression, intimidation, and fear,” the statement read.

“The fraud did not begin at the ballot box — it has been unfolding for months.”

The MEPs denounced the ongoing trial of Tundu Lissu, calling for his “immediate and unconditional release,” and warned that “no election can be credible when opposition is silenced, civic freedoms denied, and media intimidated.”

“Silence is not neutrality it is complicity,” the MEPs warned, urging the international community to respond decisively to the crisis.