Tanzania's political landscape has been marked by significant unrest surrounding the presidential elections held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the presidential candidate for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and the nation's first woman head of state, delivered her closing campaign remarks in Mwanza on October 28, 2025. However, thousands of citizens across major Tanzanian cities took to the streets in protest, indicating a significant decline in her public support. Her administration has faced mounting criticism, often described as autocratic, with widespread resentment simmering for months, leaving the outcome of the recent elections hanging in the balance.

Amidst scant and conflicting information, alarming reports emerged regarding the escalating violence. Following overnight protests, media outlets indicated that many protesters were killed by police in key towns across Tanzania, with speculation arising about the whereabouts of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. By Friday morning, international media reported that at least 700 protesters could have been killed in the ongoing skirmishes, highlighting a severe humanitarian crisis. Tension continues to mount across the East African country as these shocking casualties are reported.

The widespread civil unrest has also had significant economic repercussions, notably leading to the closure of Tanzania's main seaport in Dar es Salaam, its commercial capital. Multiple sources within the regional shipping industry confirmed that the port was closed to both inbound and outbound vessels, further exacerbating the crisis and indicating the severe impact of the political turmoil on the nation's infrastructure and trade.