518 people were killed in Tanzania in the widespread protests that followed last year’s general election, the commission of inquiry set up to investigate the violence has announced.
Presenting the final report on Thursday, commission chairperson Retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman said the majority of the victims died from gunshot wounds.
He said the findings were based on extensive medical and forensic investigations, including interviews with 80 doctors and specialists, as well as postmortem examinations and hospital records from across the country.
“The death toll stood at 518, comprising 490 males (94.6 percent) and 28 females (5.4 percent). Among the deceased were 21 children,” Othman said.
He said 505 of the victims were civilians, representing 96.7 percent of the total, while 16 were members of the security forces.
“From the evidence collected, the majority of those who died were civilians caught up in the violence,” he said.
The commission found that fatalities were concentrated in a few regions, with Dar es Salaam recording the highest number at 182 deaths, followed by Mwanza (90), Mbeya (80) and Arusha (53).
Justice Othman said most of the deaths were classified as unnatural, although the legal determination of unlawful killing lies within the jurisdiction of the courts.
“Most of the deaths were unnatural, but legal classification is a matter for the courts,” he said.
According to findings, out of the 518 deaths, 373 victims were brought to health facilities already deceased, while 121 died while receiving treatment.
Justice Othman said this indicated that many victims either died instantly or shortly after sustaining injuries.
The report shows that 480 bodies were identified and collected by relatives, while 24 remain unidentified or lack full information. Six unclaimed bodies were buried under local government procedures, and three remain at Muhimbili National Hospital pending DNA analysis.
“Some families declined postmortems and opted for immediate burial due to cultural and personal reasons,” Justice Othman said.
The commission reported that by March 31, 2026, a total of 2,390 people had received treatment for injuries, including 2,270 civilians and 120 security personnel. Of these, 2,171 sustained minor injuries and were treated and discharged.
Justice Othman noted that the figures may not capture all cases, as some victims may have sought treatment outside formal health facilities or across borders.
MG/as/APA