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US Senate Demands Probe Into Tanzania Post-Election Killings as Evidence Mounts

American lawmakers have intensified scrutiny of Tanzania’s government following reports of mass killings after last month’s contentious presidential vote, with senior senators demanding immediate international scrutiny of alleged atrocities.

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The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a forceful statement this week pressing for an independent inquiry into suspected human rights abuses that occurred during Tanzania’s recent electoral cycle. The parliamentary body’s intervention follows investigative reporting that uncovered potential evidence of systematic violence against civilians.

Journalist Larry Madowo’s investigative report for CNN examined the aftermath of protests that erupted following the October 29 polls, in which incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured re-election with an improbable 98 percent vote tally. The investigation revealed troubling accounts of security forces using deadly violence against demonstrators and possible attempts to conceal casualties.

The Senate committee expressed alarm at what it characterized as efforts by Tanzanian authorities to obscure the true extent of casualties and suppress information about the crackdown.

“Evidence of mass graves shows an unacceptable attempt to cover up gross violations of human rights,” committee members stated, adding that immediate independent investigation was essential.

International observers note that the senators’ intervention reflects mounting global anxiety that reported death tolls may represent only a fraction of actual casualties.

The controversy erupted after Tanzania’s late October general election, which opposition parties and civil society groups denounced as fundamentally flawed. President Hassan’s near-unanimous victory sparked demonstrations in multiple urban centers, with citizens challenging the legitimacy of the electoral process.

CNN’s investigation pieced together events using remote sensing technology and witness accounts, after foreign correspondents including Madowo were barred from entering Tanzania to document the polls firsthand. The report documented accounts of medical facilities struggling to handle an influx of bodies, with some injured protesters reportedly refused treatment.

Satellite analysis revealed newly disturbed earth at several locations, including at Kondo cemetery, raising questions about whether authorities buried victims in unmarked plots to suppress evidence of the death toll.

Tanzanian officials have mounted a vigorous defense against the allegations, with government spokesman Gerson Msigwa characterizing the international coverage as a coordinated attack on Hassan’s administration. He accused global news organizations of amplifying unverified social media content without seeking official comment or alternative perspectives.

“These outlets failed to seek out the government to hear the other side of the story. This was a very big mistake,” Msigwa stated, calling on CNN to adhere to journalistic standards and verify information before publication.

Tanzania has announced formation of its own investigative body to examine post-election events, though critics question whether a government-appointed commission can credibly investigate actions by state security apparatus.

The unfolding crisis has damaged Tanzania’s international standing and complicated Hassan’s efforts to position herself as a reformist leader following her predecessor’s authoritarian tenure. Western governments and human rights organizations are now reassessing their engagement with Dar es Salaam as evidence of the crackdown continues to emerge.