130 Detained After Rally Ban
Tanzanian police have arrested 130 people for allegedly “inciting criminal acts,” police said on Thursday, amid a growing crackdown on dissent following a ban on all political rallies announced by the interior minister on June 26 .
Police said they were working to track down other suspects.
The arrests come after planned protests on the July 7 public holiday were blocked by a heavy security deployment . The protesters had aimed to call for democratic reforms and justice for victims of election violence that occurred during last year’s elections .
Background of Unrest
The wave of dissent follows a government-appointed commission of inquiry report in April that found at least 518 people were killed in election-related violence . The violence was driven by the exclusion of leading opposition candidates in the electoral process.
Tanzanian authorities have denied allegations by human rights groups that the security services used excessive force during the election unrest.
The interior minister’s ban on political rallies and public demonstrations has been widely criticized by civil society groups and opposition parties, who argue it is a violation of basic democratic freedoms and an attempt to silence legitimate grievances. The arrests of 130 people mark the most significant crackdown since the ban was announced.
