Kanya, January 28, 2026 - Three months after violent protests erupted around Tanzania’s October 29, 2025 presidential election, hundreds of families remain unable to locate the bodies of relatives killed during the unrest, grieving in silence and demanding answers as official casualty figures remain undisclosed.
The unresolved fate of missing people reflects enduring pain and suspicion over how authorities handled the aftermath of the crackdowns.
Among those affected is Manenos Selanyika, a 40-year-old journalist who was reportedly shot by security forces on October 30 while out for food in Dar es Salaam’s Mbezi Africana area.
His family, like many others, was denied access to retrieve his body from the scene, and repeated searches through local hospitals yielded no results. After weeks of fruitless efforts, they held a symbolic burial with a marked grave near Mount Kilimanjaro, because they were unable to find his remains.
Families say they’ve scoured police stations, hospitals and morgues across major cities, only to be blocked at every turn or told to return later without explanation.
Many believe that security forces removed bodies from morgues and buried them in unmarked or mass graves, a charge supported by independent investigations that identified possible burial sites using satellite imagery and user-generated content, despite official denials.
The protests were triggered by the banning of leading opposition candidates and an election that saw incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan declared the winner with about 98 % of the vote.
The opposition and human rights groups say the period was marked by killings, abductions and a five-day internet blackout, during which security forces allegedly used live ammunition and force to deter demonstrators.
Estimates from political actors and civil society suggest that thousands may have been killed, although the government has not released an official death toll.
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Beyond the emotional trauma, missing bodies complicate burial rites and cultural mourning practices deeply rooted in Tanzanian society.
Relatives like Sheila Gyumi, who lost her husband and continues struggling to afford rent and schooling without closure, fear that the lack of accountability will prolong community grief and ignite distrust toward state institutions.
Rights groups and independent monitors have documented patterns of excessive force, including reports from healthcare professionals of hundreds of dead bodies brought to hospitals, some left outside morgues due to lack of space, and allegations that security forces removed bodies from hospital facilities.
Amnesty International has called on authorities to hand over the remains to families to enable dignified burial rites and help communities begin a process of healing.
Many bereaved relatives remain too fearful to speak publicly, citing the risk of reprisals from security agencies. Local journalists have also faced intimidation, with at least one reporter charged with treason for coverage of the unrest, and foreign media banned from reporting in the field during key parts of the crisis.
The unresolved fate of the missing, widespread allegations of forced disappearances, and the lack of transparency in official accounts have drawn regional concern about human rights and governance in Tanzania.
As families continue searching for closure, calls are growing for independent investigations, accountability mechanisms, and humanitarian support to help communities cope with loss and affirm the dignity of those who died.

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