Dodoma, Tanzania

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered the release of almost 500 young people who were arrested and charged with treason following the violent protests that erupted after Tanzania’s October 29 general election.

During her first address to the newly formed National Assembly, President Samia adopted a conciliatory tone, describing many of the detained youth as “misled” and influenced by peers and online figures. She directed state prosecutors to review the cases and immediately free those who were found to have acted without criminal intent.

"As a mother of this nation, I see our youth as builders of tomorrow,” President Samia said. “Some followed the wave without understanding the consequences, and they should be given a chance to correct their mistakes.”

The mass arrests occurred as thousands of young people took to the streets to protest the election results, which saw the President declared the winner with nearly 98 percent of the vote. Major opposition parties had been barred from participating, a move that triggered widespread anger and calls for political reform.

Human-rights groups say security forces used excessive force to disperse crowds, and the true number of casualties from the unrest remains unclear. Opposition leaders claim that hundreds were killed or went missing, although the government has disputed those figures.In response to the public outcry, President Samia also announced the formation of an inquiry commission to investigate the deaths and violence that occurred during the post-election demonstrations. She pledged that the findings of the investigation would guide future reforms and help restore national stability.

The President further reiterated her commitment to launching a constitutional reform process within the first 100 days of her new term, a key demand from civil-society groups and opposition parties.While the release of the youths has been welcomed as a positive step, political analysts note that the government still faces significant pressure to address deeper issues related to democratic governance, transparency, and public trust.