Suluhu Under Pressure as UN Demands Full Investigation Into Tanzania Election Killings
The United Nations has urged Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu’s government to immediately launch a full and transparent investigation into the killings and human rights abuses reported during the country’s recent general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 11, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that the agency had received credible information showing that hundreds of protesters and civilians were killed, while many others were injured or detained during and after the election period.
He added that the actual number of casualties remains uncertain due to the tense security situation and the nationwide internet shutdown that followed the vote.
Türk further disclosed that disturbing reports reaching the UN Human Rights Office indicated that security forces might have secretly taken away the bodies of those killed, hiding them in undisclosed locations.
“Our office has not been able to independently verify the total number of people killed because of the volatile security situation and communication restrictions,” he explained.
“Families are reportedly moving from one police station to another, from one hospital to another, in search of their loved ones. These stories are truly heartbreaking,” he added.
The UN Chief called on Tanzanian authorities to urgently release full information about all those missing and to return the bodies of the deceased to their families for proper burial.
He also demanded that those responsible for the killings and disappearances be held accountable through a credible judicial process.
Türk noted that the UN had also received alarming accounts of security officers collecting bodies from streets and hospitals and transporting them to unknown locations, raising serious concerns about attempts to conceal evidence.
He went on to call for the unconditional release of all opposition politicians and activists detained before or after the elections.
Among those mentioned was opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who, according to the UN, was among several people arbitrarily arrested and denied their basic legal rights.
The UN statement revealed that over 150 people, including minors, had been arrested since the elections under unclear legal circumstances. Some of those detained were reportedly charged with treason, a move that human rights groups say violates both Tanzanian and international laws.
“It is crucial that anyone arrested or detained on criminal charges be promptly presented before a court and given the right to challenge the legality of their detention,” Türk emphasized, stressing the importance of justice and due process.
Meanwhile, a Kenyan family continues to plead for help from President William Ruto’s government to bring home the body of their relative, John Ogutu, who was allegedly killed in Tanzania during the election unrest.
Ogutu, a teacher working in Tanzania, was reportedly shot dead on October 29, the same day President Samia Suluhu was declared the winner of the general election.
The tragic incident has added an international dimension to the crisis, increasing pressure on Suluhu’s administration to take swift and transparent action.
Human rights groups across East Africa are now urging regional leaders and the African Union to intervene and ensure that justice is served for the victims and their families.
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