• Hundreds face treason charges after protests following Tanzania's disputed elections.
• Opposition leaders, including Tundu Lissu, have been jailed amid allegations of electoral fraud.
• The death toll from the protests is disputed, with claims ranging from hundreds to thousands.

Authorities in Tanzania have escalated political tensions by charging over 200 individuals with treason following protests surrounding the disputed general elections held on October 29. Arrest warrants have been issued for top opposition officials, including Brenda Rupia, communications director for the Chadema opposition party, and John Mnyika, secretary-general. The unrest coincided with volatile demonstrations in major cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha, leading to violence during the election period, according to South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

Following the elections, police confirmed the arrest of Amani Golugwa, the deputy secretary-general of Chadema, making him the third senior party official in custody. More than 250 individuals have already been arraigned in court with charges involving conspiracy to commit treason and treason itself. Chadema has labeled the electoral process a "sham," citing the overwhelming victories claimed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan as evidence of electoral misconduct, with reported support of over 98% from an official tally, as highlighted by South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

The unrest has allegedly resulted in significant casualties, although exact figures remain heavily disputed. Chadema claims that more than 1,000 people have died due to the police crackdown, while the Catholic Church indicates that hundreds were likely killed. Conversely, reports from the Kenya Human Rights Commission assert that the toll could be as high as 3,000, with many more still unaccounted for. Such discrepancies raise serious concerns about governmental transparency and human rights violations during the protests, based on findings reported by South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

The African Union observers have criticized the electoral process, stating that it failed to meet international democratic standards, mentioning incidents of ballot stuffing and a general lack of a conducive environment for free expression and electoral fairness. Analysts assert that President Hassan's governance is increasingly authoritarian, diverging from the relative openness experienced under previous leaders. This increasing repression poses a significant challenge to any potential democratic reforms, as stated by South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.