A report by CNN has found alarming evidence that suggests police in Tanzania injured and killed protesters in the immediate aftermath of the October 29 2025 general elections, and the bodies could have been buried hurriedly in unidentified mass grave sites. These revelations add to growing international concern about the magnitude and extent of the security crackdown following the election, as well as the level of transparency by the government.

What was found in the investigation
As per in the CNN report, recently restored mobile footage and eyewitness accounts of police officers and other masked gangs shooting at crowds of protesters in cities like Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Arusha. The footage shows chaotic battles in which bystanders and protesters were shot repeatedly. One of the clips shows one man who yelled: “Oh my God, this is our Tanzania,” as protesters who were bloody collapsed around him.

The team at CNN also analysed funeral records, morgue logs and satellite images that suggest at least one of the sites was used for mass burials. The families of victims say they were not allowed access to the morgue or informed that the bodies were already removed, leading to accusations that authorities attempted to cover up death-tolls or obscure the extent that the victims’ deaths took place.

The context of the violence
The violence came after the nationwide election on October 29 that saw political parties, as well as their leaderships claimed that they were not allowed to field candidates and claimed the election was not fair nor free. Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the party that is ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) was able to secure 99 percent of the vote and was dismissed by critics as being implausible and a sign of coercion in the electoral process. The Washington Post+2Wikipedia+2

Protests were erupted across the nation in protest. Security forces reacted with violence. After a five-day period of internet blackout authorities also enforced curfews, and restricted access to large towns. Reuters+1

Claims of concealment and mass graves
The most alarming aspects of the investigation the allegations of burials in graves that are not marked or hidden. Witnesses have told CNN that the morgues were overcrowded and, in some cases, the bodies were taken away without notice to the families. The opposition party’s activists Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) estimate “hundreds to thousands” of deaths, though the estimates from the government remain elusive. Wikipedia+1

The investigation is based on satellite images of freshly turned ground along with trenches that are visible in forest areas afar from Dar es Salaam, which coincided with the protests that were reported and were followed by disruptions in official documents and access to sites. These findings have prompted calls from human rights chief of the United Nations human-rights chief for an independent investigation into the possibility of extrajudicial executions and the disposing of bodies. AP News+1

International reaction and response of the government
The Tanzanian government has denied the shootings were a result of massive state violence. It has acknowledged the fact that there were some deaths and asserting that the event was exaggerated by the opposition. The government has also cautioned citizens against posting images or videos of protests online, warning of the risk of “panic” and “false information.” The Reuters+1

Internationally, diplomats and rights groups have voiced concern. In the past, diplomats and rights-groups have expressed their concern. United Nations has urged access to morgues, the transparency of death counts and the apprehension of those accountable for committing illegal murders. The CNN investigation bolsters the demands with new data-driven and visual evidence of the possibility of massive abuses.

Why is it important
If they are confirmed The incidents that occurred in Tanzania represent one of the most serious cases of post-election violence that has occurred in Africa. The combination of live gunfire on civilians as well as mass burials, Internet shutdowns and the absence of independent verification poses an unimaginable challenge to the human rights standards and democratic accountability. For Tanzanians who, for a large portion of them, expressed confidence in the stability of the country as well as its economic growth, the videos and news reports expose the deep cracks in the social contract.

Conclusion
The CNN investigation leaves a dark shadow on the results of Tanzania’s elections as well as the actions of the security forces. Families continue to hunt in search of missing family members. activists argue that justice is being thwarted. Without a thorough investigation and accountability, there is a risk that the truth about what transpired will remain hidden in both the literal as well as metaphorically.