Tanzanian prosecutors have charged at least 240 people with treason over their alleged involvement in violent protests that erupted last week following the presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to court documents, the defendants are accused of plotting to disrupt the 2025 general elections in an effort to “intimidate the executive branch” and damage government property.
Among those charged is a businesswoman accused of encouraging people to buy tear gas masks from her company during the demonstrations, along with several social media influencers.
The trial has been adjourned to November 19, with the defendants facing the death penalty if convicted, though such sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment in Tanzania.
Religious leaders have warned that the charges could deepen political tensions, urging the government to pursue reconciliation with the opposition.
A prominent lawyer noted that most defendants lack legal representation and are not public figures.
The case unfolds amid growing controversy over the integrity of the elections, which saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan win 98% of the vote — a result criticized by African Union observers as falling short of democratic standards, a claim denied by the government.
