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According to the chief rival group, nearly 700 citizens have allegedly been killed during a three-day period of poll-related protests in the East African nation.

Unrest Begins on Voting Day

Uprisings broke out on election day over claims that protesters called the silencing of the opposition after the removal of major candidates from the presidential ballot.

Fatality Estimates Stated

An rival spokesperson declared that scores of civilians had been lost their lives since the demonstrations began.

"Currently, the fatality count in Dar es Salaam is approximately 350 and for Mwanza it is over 200. Added to figures from other places around the nation, the overall count is around 700," the official stated.

He noted that the number could be much higher because fatalities could be happening during a nighttime lockdown that was imposed from Wednesday.

Additional Reports

• An security source allegedly mentioned there had been accounts of exceeding 500 fatalities, "perhaps 700-800 in the entire nation."
• Amnesty International reported it had obtained data that a minimum of 100 individuals had been lost their lives.
• Rival groups stated their figures had been collected by a team of supporters going to hospitals and health clinics and "counting the deceased."

Appeals for Intervention

The opposition demanded the administration to "halt targeting our protesters" and requested a interim administration to pave the way for free and fair elections.

"End police brutality. Honor the voice of the public which is electoral justice," the spokesperson said.

Government Measures

Authorities responded by enforcing a curfew. Online restrictions were also reported, with international monitors indicating it was countrywide.

The following day, the military leader denounced the violence and referred to the demonstrators "criminals". He stated authorities would try to contain the situation.

International Reaction

The UN human rights office expressed it was "deeply concerned" by the fatalities and harm in the demonstrations, adding it had received accounts that a minimum of 10 people had been killed by security forces.

The organization reported it had received trustworthy accounts of fatalities in the port city, in Shinyanga and an eastern area, with officials firing gunfire and chemical irritants to scatter crowds.

Expert View

An civil rights lawyer stated it was "unacceptable" for law enforcement to resort to arms, adding that the nation's president "ought to cease deploying the law enforcement against the people."

"She should pay attention to the people. The sentiment of the nation is that there was an unfair process … The people are unable to elect a single contender," the lawyer said.