What Went Wrong in Tanzania?

How the “island of stability” in a turbulent region descended into chaos—and where it goes from here.

Protestors shout with cardboard signs. The one in front reads: "TANZANIA FREEDOM OF SPEECH THE UNANSWERED CRIES OF NATION IN PAIN." November 6, 2025, 2:18 PM Comment icon View Comments ( )

“We don’t do that here,” was a common refrain at every Tanzanian election in recent decades. International media outlets would descend for another flawed election in another unstable African democracy, and they would file reports dripping with condescension that included variations of the question: “Is it likely to turn violent?”

Tanzanians were justifiably proud of their record of peace and stability. Few would have described their democracy as perfect, but

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