ICC urged to investigate Tanzania election violence

A coalition of regional and international civil society groups and legal bodies has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate violence surrounding the Tanzanian election, according to Africa News and agencies on November 26th.

Organisations, including the Madrid Bar Association and World Jurists Association, have submitted an 82-page petition which details accusations of state-sponsored murder, torture, forced disappearances, sexual violence and the mass displacement of civilians.

The October 29th election was won by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and lawyers representing victims allege that the violence occurred under her watch as commander-in-chief, which they claim makes her complicit in violence against civilians. The ICC has yet to open any formal investigation into these allegations.

Protests spilt into neighbouring Kenya on October 30th, as hundreds of people crossed into the border town of Namanga to seek refuge. However, the border crossing resulted in shots being fired into Kenya by Tanzanian authorities.

On November 11th, the UN called for an investigation into the violence, which has killed at least 700 people, while at least 240 people have been charged with treason over post-election demonstrations.

Human Rights Watch also condemned the violence, including what it called the use of “internet blockades” to silence critics and make information difficult to verify.

Opposition candidates were barred from standing in the election, while foreign journalists were banned from reporting on the event. A curfew and internet blackout were also imposed, as protestors were met with a violent crackdown from the police and army.

Internet access was partially restored on November 3rd after a six-day blackout, with mobile phone users receiving a warning that sharing images and videos that may cause panic could result in “treason charges.”

Hassan was sworn into office on November 3rd after winning the election with 98% of the vote. However, the legitimacy of this result is disputed by many, including the opposition party, Chadema.

Members of the opposition Chadema party have been detained on charges of treason, and the party’s deputy leader, John Heche, is facing terrorism charges.

During a televised address to the nation on November 17th, Hassan appointed her daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, to serve as the country’s Deputy Minister of Education. Ameir’s husband and Hassan’s son-in-law, Mohamed Mchengerwa, was also appointed as the cabinet’s Minister of Health.

The cabinet reshuffle also saw the son of former President Jakaya Kikwete, Ridhwani Kikwete, appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Public Service Management and Good Governance.

Hassan has defended the election results and offered a limited reconciliation process, which has been widely criticised as inadequate. The unrest has led to the government cancelling the upcoming Tanzanian Independence Day celebrations for December 9th.

Africa News and agencies, Maghrebi.org