Authorities in Tanzania have charged dozens of people with treason following violent protests that erupted after the country’s general election on October 29.
According to court filings, the accused are alleged to have attempted to obstruct the electoral process and intimidate the government by damaging state property. Among those charged is a businesswoman accused of supplying tear gas masks to demonstrators.
The protests broke out after widespread anger over the exclusion of major opposition figures and what observers described as a flawed election. Opposition supporters and human rights groups claim that more than 1,000 people were killed during the unrest, though the government has denied this figure and has not released an official death toll.
Civil society and religious leaders have expressed concern that the treason charges could further inflame political tensions instead of promoting national reconciliation.