Dar es Salaam, Tanzania —
Tanzanian authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew in the country’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, after violent clashes broke out during Wednesday’s general election, which observers say was overshadowed by the exclusion of key opposition candidates.

The curfew order, announced by Inspector General of Police Camillus Wambura, will remain in effect “until calm is fully restored.” Security forces have been deployed across major intersections and polling centers after crowds took to the streets protesting alleged irregularities and the disqualification of opposition contenders.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is widely expected to win reelection, has called for calm and urged citizens “to respect the democratic process and await official results.” Her ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), remains dominant after the main opposition party, CHADEMA, and its leader Tundu Lissu were barred from participating earlier this year.

According to eyewitness accounts, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in several neighborhoods of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar City. Opposition activists claimed that several people were injured, though official casualty figures have not been confirmed.

The election was already controversial after Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission disqualified CHADEMA and the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) for refusing to sign the electoral code of conduct, effectively leaving the CCM without major challengers.

International observers, including representatives from the African Union and the East African Community, reported isolated incidents of unrest and ballot delays but stopped short of declaring widespread fraud. Civil society groups, however, expressed concern that the absence of opposition voices could undermine the legitimacy of the outcome.

President Hassan, who became Tanzania’s first female leader in 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli, has portrayed her campaign as one of continuity, national unity, and economic stability. Yet, critics argue that her government’s tightening control over political space and media freedom signals a drift toward authoritarianism.

Results from the presidential and parliamentary races are expected to be announced in the coming days.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has firmly rejected Kenya’s appointment of a Consul-General to Goma, accusing Nairobi of breaching diplomatic protocol and undermining Congolese sovereignty amid ongoing conflict in the eastern region.

Kenya’s designation of Judy Kiara as Consul-General to Goma announced Friday has sparked outrage in Kinshasa, which claims the move was made without prior consultation or notification, a requirement under international diplomatic norms.

In an official statement, the Congolese Foreign Ministry said the appointment “violates established international procedures and risks being interpreted as legitimizing the occupation of Goma by M23 rebels.”

“This is not just a breach of protocol it is a political misstep,” said a senior Congolese official. “Goma is not a stable diplomatic zone. It is under the control of a rebel movement our government is actively fighting.”

Background

Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, fell under rebel control earlier this year after intense clashes between the Congolese armed forces and the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses of receiving foreign support, including from regional actors.

The M23’s takeover of Goma has been internationally condemned, and the Congolese government continues to assert its authority over the region.

Kenya’s Position

Kenyan President William Ruto included Judy Kiara’s appointment in a wider diplomatic reshuffle aimed at expanding Kenya’s influence in the Great Lakes region. Nairobi has not publicly responded to Congo’s rejection, but sources within Kenya’s foreign ministry say the appointment was made “in good faith” to support regional diplomacy and Kenyan citizens in Goma.

However, Congo sees it differently as an act of interference in a conflict zone still under military contestation.

Diplomatic Fallout

This latest dispute comes amid tense regional dynamics, with Congo already wary of neighboring countries’ involvement in eastern DRC’s volatile landscape. The African Union and East African Community are expected to be called on to mediate and clarify regional diplomatic boundaries.

As of now, the status of Kenya’s proposed diplomatic mission in Goma remains uncertain, and relations between Kinshasa and Nairobi appear strained.