Washington confirmed the review in a statement from the State Department, saying it was deeply concerned about the treatment of protesters and restrictions on basic freedoms. The announcement follows increasing scrutiny from rights groups and questions over how the government handled the political unrest that unfolded once election results were declared.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan claimed a sweeping victory, saying she had received 98% of the vote. Several of her main opponents were prevented from taking part, leading critics to describe the election as neither fair nor competitive. Following the result, protests led largely by young people erupted in several parts of the country. The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi party accused demonstrators of attempting to remove the government through unrest, but offered no evidence to support the claim.
Human rights experts at the United Nations say hundreds of people were shot dead and many more detained as security forces carried out what they described as a violent crackdown. Although President Hassan has admitted that there were casualties, officials have not released any figures.
An investigation by CNN used video analysis, satellite images and testimony from eyewitnesses to document what appeared to be shootings of unarmed protesters by police and armed groups. The investigation also identified areas north of Dar es Salaam where satellite photographs suggested mass graves might exist, although these claims have not been verified publicly by the Tanzanian authorities.
In its statement, the United States said it was troubled by restrictions on free expression and religious freedom, along with what it described as a hostile climate for foreign investment. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said recent developments risked the safety of American citizens and threatened to undermine decades of cooperation between the two countries.
The Tanzanian government has not yet commented on the announcement.
At the same time, questions have been raised about online censorship. Meta confirmed that it had disabled or restricted social media accounts belonging to two Tanzanian activists who had shared videos and reports of violence after the vote. The company said one account was restricted after a legal request from the Tanzanian government, while another was removed for repeated violations of platform rules.
Both activists expressed concern over the decisions and argued that the authorities were trying to silence criticism of the government’s actions.
Tanzania has long been regarded as one of East Africa’s more stable nations, and international observers will be watching closely to see whether the government responds to calls for greater accountability, or if diplomatic relations with Washington continue to deteriorate.
