Tanzania President Samia Suluhu has ordered the formation of a special investigative body following the release of a Commission of Inquiry report into the October 29, 2025 unrest.
According to the report presented at State House, at least 518 people died from unnatural causes linked to violence that erupted during and after the 2025 General Election.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced plans to establish a special investigative body to follow up on findings contained in the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the October 29, 2025, unrest, the statement read.
Special Probe to Investigate Killings and Abductions
Following the report, President Samia announced that a special investigative body will be established to examine issues raised in the findings.
Also Read: Inquiry Finds More Than 500 People Were Killed in Tanzania Election Violence
The new body will focus on identifying individuals involved in organizing, coordinating, and financing the unrest.
It will also investigate incidents involving the deaths of children, claims of missing bodies and reports of abductions where individuals remain unaccounted for.
“The body will also investigate reports of alleged abductions where individuals remain unaccounted for, as well as cases involving people affected outside the areas where the unrest occurred,” said Samia.
The probe is expected to build on the commission’s work by examining specific cases and determining accountability for the violence.
Tanzania Government To support for victims
President Samia also announced the establishment of a special support system for victims affected by the unrest.
The program will finance ongoing medical treatment for injured individuals and provide assistive equipment, including prosthetic limbs, to those left with permanent disabilities.
Samia also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring justice, accountability, and continued support for victims affected by the unrest.
The unrest followed the October 29, 2025, General Election, in which President Samia was declared the winner with 98% of the vote.
Results were disputed by opposition parties, while the government maintained that the polls were conducted freely and fairly.
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Commission reports 518 deaths, outlines causes
The Commission of Inquiry, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Othman Chande, established that 518 people died during the unrest, with 490 of the victims identified as men.
According to the findings, the violence was driven by a combination of long-standing and immediate factors, including economic hardship, unemployment, political grievances, and what the report described as a lack of patriotism.
“We are dealing with both long-standing problems that have persisted over time and immediate triggers that ignited tensions on the ground,” said Chande.
The commission noted that politicians and activists exploited these issues to mobilize people to protest. It added that the demonstrations were neither peaceful nor lawful and therefore did not qualify for legal protection.
Despite detailing the events and impacts of the unrest, the commission stopped short of attributing blame, instead recommending further investigations.
