Commission Dismisses Claims That Protesters Were Killed and Buried in Mass Graves in Tanzania
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The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the 2025 violence in Tanzania has dismissed widespread allegations of mass graves in the Kondo cemetery area of Kunduchi, Kinondoni Municipality in Dar es Salaam, stating that investigations found no evidence to support the claims.
The allegations, which had circulated on international and social media, suggested the existence of secret burial sites linked to post-election violence.
However, the Chairperson of the Commission, retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, said these claims were untrue following extensive fieldwork and scientific analysis.
Chande said the Commission carried out thorough investigations, including site visits, interviews, and consultations with local authorities responsible for managing the cemetery.
“The Commission conducted investigations, including visiting and inspecting the entire cemetery area, conducting interviews, obtaining a report from the Cemetery Supervisor in Kinondoni Municipality, and taking evidence from the supervisor of the Kondo cemetery,” the report states.
Experts in remote sensing and geographic information systems were also engaged to examine satellite imagery cited in the allegations. According to the Commission, their analysis did not support the existence of mass graves.
“The opinion of those experts was that the allegations could not be substantiated,” the report noted.
Further inspection revealed that the cemetery remains an active site, surrounded by residential areas and used for seasonal farming, with continuous security monitoring.
“On the basis of the evidence and the Commission’s field investigations, the Commission found that the allegations concerning the existence of mass graves at Kondo were untrue,” Chande said.
Tanzania Commission Confirms 518 Deaths Linked to Election Violence
While dismissing the mass graves claims, the Commission provided detailed figures on fatalities linked to the election unrest, confirming that a total of 518 people died.
According to the report;
- 490 were male (94.6%), and 28 were female (5.4%)
- 502 victims (96.9%) were civilians, while 16 (3.1%) were security personnel
21 of the victims were children, including:
- 15 aged 15-17
- 4 aged 7-10
- 2 under five years old
Most of the deaths were described as unnatural.
Dar es Salaam Recorded Highest Death Toll
The Commission identified regional disparities in fatalities, with Dar es Salaam recording the highest number of deaths at 182.
Other affected regions included:
- Mwanza – 90 deaths
- Mbeya – 80 deaths
- Arusha – 53 deaths
Also Read: Tanzania Government to Provide Free Medical Care and Resources for Victims of 2025 Protests
Most Victims Died Before Reaching the Hospital
The report also highlighted the circumstances under which victims died:
- 373 people were brought to hospitals already deceased
- 121 died while receiving treatment
- 24 bodies had no available hospital records
Out of all victims, 480 bodies (92.7%) were identified and claimed by families, while the rest remained unaccounted for in official records.
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Hivileo infographics showing the findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the violence witnessed during and after the 2025 Tanzania elections. PHOTO/ Hivileo.
