Tensions in Tanzania have escalated sharply following disputed elections that opposition supporters and international observers describe as deeply flawed. The National Electoral Commission began releasing official results on Thursday, showing President Samia Suluhu Hassan winning nearly 95 % of the vote in the southern region of Mbeya a margin the European Union Parliament has condemned as “a premeditated fraud.”

Election day was marred by violent clashes between opposition supporters and security forces in several regions. Witnesses reported running battles, the firing of tear gas, and the sound of live ammunition as police moved to disperse demonstrators challenging the credibility of the vote.

In a national address broadcast on state television, General Jacob Mkunda, the Chief of Defence Forces, warned that “laws must be respected” and blamed “those who wish the nation harm” for vandalism, looting, and attacks on public property. He said the army was working closely with the police to restore calm and urged protesters to “return home immediately.”

Gunfire was reported in Mwanza, Tanzania’s second-largest city, while fresh unrest erupted in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, where main highways were sealed off by security forces. The situation in Dar es Salaam remained volatile, with heavy police deployment and several neighborhoods placed under a night-time curfew.

At the Namanga border crossing with Kenya, protests spilled over as hundreds of Tanzanians attempted to flee or join demonstrations, bringing cross-border trade to a halt. Kenyan authorities warned citizens to stay away from the area as tear gas and burning tyres filled the air. Police confirmed at least two deaths during Wednesday’s clashes, one of them a Tanzanian protester who was reportedly shot while fleeing.

The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam said access roads to the international airport had been blocked, advising travelers to exercise caution. A witness told Ukwelitimes that “hundreds of protesters entered Mwanza from the outskirts near Lake Victoria. Within minutes, gunfire erupted, tear gas filled the streets, and injured people were being carried away.”

The government has since ordered public servants to work from home until Friday, citing safety concerns amid ongoing unrest.

Amnesty International described the situation as “deeply alarming,” confirming reports that a civilian and a police officer were killed during the initial wave of violence. The group criticized the government’s decision to impose an internet blackout, warning that it could “fuel misinformation and escalate tensions further.” Amnesty urged authorities to restore connectivity and uphold citizens’ rights to information and peaceful assembly.

Meanwhile, protesters have turned to the Zello walkie-talkie app to coordinate marches after social media platforms were restricted.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who came to power in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, is expected to secure a second term after leading opposition figures were barred from running. Tundu Lissu, the main opposition leader, remains in detention on treason charges he denies, while Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party was disqualified from the race.

Samia, celebrated early in her presidency as Tanzania’s first female head of state and a symbol of reform, now faces mounting criticism for an increasingly authoritarian approach. Opposition parties and civil society groups accuse her government of silencing dissent, intimidating journalists, and shrinking political space.

By Thursday night, Dar es Salaam remained under heavy military presence. Sporadic gunfire continued in parts of the city as demonstrators vowed to keep pressing for what they call “a new dawn for Tanzanian democracy.”