Tanzanian President calls for reconciliation and establishes an inquiry committee into violence

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Friday the creation of an investigative committee to examine the deaths that occurred during opposition protests.

Anti-government demonstrations had erupted in the country following last month’s elections, the results of which the opposition has rejected.

Legislative and presidential elections were held in Tanzania on 29 October, and according to the opposition and foreign observers, they were marred by fraud.

When announcing the establishment of the committee, the Tanzanian president expressed her deep sorrow over the deaths resulting from the violence. She stated that the committee would be tasked with examining the events and identifying their causes.

For several days, numerous cities across the country witnessed anti-government demonstrations that, according to the opposition and human rights organizations, resulted in hundreds of deaths.

During the opening session of the new parliament in the capital Dodoma, President Hassan said that the forthcoming report would pave the way for dialogue leading to reconciliation and peace.

Samia Suluhu Hassan won the presidential election with 98 percent of the vote, according to official results.

More than two hundred people have been charged with treason in connection with the violent protests. A conviction for treason can carry the death penalty.

The president stated that she recognizes that many of the young people arrested and accused of treason were not fully aware of the consequences of their actions.

She added: as the mother of the nation, I urge the security forces, particularly the office of the police director, to carefully assess the gravity of the offenses committed by our youth. For those who joined the movement without clear criminal intent, give them an opportunity to rectify their mistakes.

The government has not yet released any official death toll.