Deadly violence against protesters “proportionate”

TT

Published 15.09

 

Soldiers patrol the streets of Zanzibar during the vote count in October. Photo: Brian Inganga/AP/TT

Tanzania’s president justifies the killing of protesters during the protests that erupted in connection with the country’s disputed elections.

More than 1,000 people were shot dead during three days of protests in Tanzania in late October, according to human rights organizations and the opposition.

The violence was necessary, claims President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

– The violence that was used was proportional to the situation we were facing. (...) Should we have just watched? The mob of protesters was prepared to try to overthrow the government until they succeeded, she says.

According to the electoral commission, Suluhu Hassan received 98 percent of the vote, but the result was heavily contested. In addition, ahead of the election, her main challengers had either been imprisoned or banned from participating.

The government has still not commented or confirmed the death toll.