Tanzania is marking one year since President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for her current term on November 3, 2025. Her tenure has been shaped by significant national challenges and efforts to safeguard the country's unity and stability. When President Samia took office, the country was recovering from a difficult electoral period that tested its democratic institutions and commitment to peace and stability.
The events of October 29, 2025, and the subsequent violence left a lasting impact, and addressing the aftermath required more than just restoring calm. It necessitated establishing the truth, identifying those responsible, supporting victims, and creating avenues for national reconciliation. In response, the administration established a nine-member Commission of Inquiry, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, to investigate the causes, circumstances, and consequences of the violence.
The commission began its work on November 20, 2025, and spent 153 days collecting evidence across the country, visiting 202 locations in 21 districts across 11 regions, and interviewing 1,323 victims. It also received thousands of written submissions and digital communications. The commission's findings, presented to President Samia on April 23, 2026, revealed that 518 people had died and 2,390 others sustained injuries during the unrest.
The commission's report exposed the human cost of the violence, including the deaths of 21 children and 197 people from gunshot wounds. The findings suggested that the incidents were planned, coordinated, sponsored, and executed by organized groups, with some young people motivated by grievances over unemployment and socioeconomic challenges, while others were drawn into the violence through financial promises.
President Samia acknowledged the seriousness of the events and the responsibility they placed on her leadership, stressing that the country could not move forward without confronting the truth about what happened. She warned that peace, once lost, was difficult to restore and emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis through accountability, dialogue, and reforms.
The government has pursued further investigations into those responsible for the violence, following the recommendations of the Othman Commission. President Samia directed security organs to investigate individuals involved in planning, financing, coordinating, and executing the incidents. A special Criminal Commission of Inquiry into violence and violations of the law was established, chaired by retired Court of Appeal Justice Shaban Ali Lila.
The commission has begun collecting evidence, and Justice Lila announced that it has completed investigations in Dar es Salaam Region. The initiative represents another step towards addressing questions surrounding the violence, with its credibility and findings expected to be important in determining public confidence in the accountability process. The administration has also recognized the need to address the suffering of people directly affected by the unrest.
Key points
- President Samia's administration has established commissions to investigate the causes and consequences of the violence and to identify those responsible.
- The government has pledged support for affected people, including free medical treatment, rehabilitation services, and assistive devices for injured victims.
- President Samia has emphasized the importance of addressing the crisis through accountability, dialogue, and reforms to restore peace and national unity.
