Tanzania Police spokesperson David Misime addressing the media on December 9, 2025. /SCREENGRABTanzania’s security agencies on Tuesday dismissed social media claims suggesting that anti-government protests had erupted across the country, insisting that the situation remained peaceful despite heightened tension following contentious elections.
Tanzanians had been expected to stage coordinated nationwide demonstrations on December 9, branded “D9” by organisers who claimed the government had presided over a deeply flawed electoral process.
The disputed October 29 general election returned President Samia Suluhu Hassan to power with 98 per cent of the vote, a result the opposition rejected as illegitimate.
Several key opposition figures, including Chadema’s Tundu Lissu, were unable to participate in the polls after being barred or arrested ahead of election day.
The unrest that erupted on election day escalated into prolonged calls for demonstrations, prompting a sweeping crackdown by authorities.
Opposition leaders have alleged that more than 700 people were killed in the post-election violence, although the government has firmly denied these claims and has not published any official casualty figures.
The uncertainty and fear stemming from the unrest left many Tanzanians indoors on Tuesday, wary of potential confrontations between civilians and security forces.
Addressing the media, Police spokesperson David Misime categorically stated that no demonstrations took place on Tuesday and urged the public to disregard online posts suggesting otherwise.
He said that images and videos circulating on social platforms were either old or unrelated to the alleged protests.
“The Tanzania Police Force would like to inform you that as of midday, the security situation across the country was stable. Security agencies continue to maintain safety as well as safeguard people's lives and their property,” Misime said.
He added that the police were aware of the wave of online content depicting purported scenes of chaos, insisting that they were being deliberately circulated to mislead the public.
“The police force continues to appeal to citizens to ignore screenshots and file photos being circulated on social media platforms showing that there are demonstrations in various parts. Those reports are not true; they are using file photos and screenshots of what happened before, like on October 29 to October 31, 2025.”
Misime said some images are from even earlier dates—for example, an incident in June involving initiation ceremonies by the Maasai community in a Tanapa forest in Arusha City.
“Ignore those images because their goal is to deceive you that there are protests,” he said.
The spokesperson reiterated that the planned demonstrations had been prohibited.
"It should also be noted that the purported “peaceful demonstrations” were prohibited effective December 5, 2025, because they did not meet the legal requirements set out in applicable laws, including the constitution and the Police Act.
Misime concluded by urging Tanzanians to continue complying with the law for the benefit of everyone.
