A total of 518 people, including 16 security officers, died during the unrest that followed the October 29, 2025 General Election, according to findings of a presidential commission of inquiry.
Presenting the report to President Samia Suluhu Hassan at State House on April 23, 2026, retired Chief Justice Mohamed Othman Chande said the deaths were largely among civilians and were concentrated in major urban regions.
“Out of the 518 deaths, 502 equivalent to 96.9 percent were civilians, while 16, or 3.1 percent, were members of the security forces,” Justice Chande said.
The report shows that Dar es Salaam recorded the highest number of fatalities at 182, followed by Mwanza (90), Mbeya (80) and Arusha (53), while other regions accounted for 113 deaths.
According to the commission, men accounted for the overwhelming majority of victims, with 490 deaths (94.6 percent), compared to 28 women (5.4 percent). Most of the deaths were classified as unnatural.
The findings also highlight the impact on minors, with 21 children among the dead. Of these, 15 were aged between 15 and 17 years, four were aged between seven and 10, and two were under five years old.
Justice Chande said the commission analysed the circumstances surrounding the deaths and found that a significant number occurred either before victims reached medical facilities or while receiving treatment.
“Of the 518 deaths, 373 individuals were brought to hospitals already deceased, 121 died while undergoing treatment, and for 24 cases there were no available records from health facilities,” he said.
He added that 480 bodies equivalent to 92.7 percent were identified and collected by relatives, while the remaining cases presented identification challenges.
The report provides one of the most detailed official accounts of the human toll of the October 29 unrest, with analysts saying the data could shape future responses on crowd management, emergency healthcare preparedness and conflict prevention during electoral periods.
