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Based on the main opposition group, about 700 people have allegedly lost their lives during three days of election-related protests in Tanzania.

Unrest Breaks Out on Voting Day

Demonstrations commenced on Wednesday over claims that demonstrators called the suppression of the rival camp after the removal of major candidates from the election contest.

Casualty Estimates Stated

A opposition official announced that hundreds of individuals had been lost their lives since the demonstrations commenced.

"Currently, the death toll in the port city is around 350 and for another city it is 200-plus. Added to estimates from other regions around the country, the final count is approximately 700," he said.

He added that the death count could be significantly greater because killings may be occurring during a nighttime lockdown that was enforced from Wednesday.

Additional Reports

• A official source reportedly mentioned there had been reports of more than 500 fatalities, "perhaps 700-800 in the nationwide."
• The human rights organization stated it had obtained data that at least 100 individuals had been lost their lives.
• The opposition stated their numbers had been collected by a team of party members visiting clinics and medical centers and "documenting dead bodies."

Calls for Action

The opposition demanded the government to "stop targeting our demonstrators" and called for a interim government to facilitate free and fair elections.

"Halt excessive force. Honor the choice of the people which is fair elections," the spokesperson declared.

Authorities Reaction

Officials reacted by implementing a lockdown. Web outages were also noted, with international monitors indicating it was nationwide.

On Thursday, the military leader criticized the unrest and labeled the protesters "criminals". The official said law enforcement would try to contain the situation.

Global Reaction

United Nations human rights office expressed it was "deeply concerned" by the fatalities and harm in the protests, noting it had gathered accounts that a minimum of 10 civilians had been lost their lives by security forces.

The office stated it had received credible reports of deaths in the port city, in Shinyanga and Morogoro, with security forces firing real bullets and teargas to scatter protesters.

Expert Perspective

An civil rights attorney stated it was "unreasonable" for security agencies to use force, noting that the nation's leader "should refrain from deploying the police against the people."

"She must heed the citizens. The mood of the country is that there was no fair vote … The people cannot elect a single contender," the advocate said.