Tanzanian police ordered a curfew in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday after violent protests marred an election that President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to win following the disqualification of the two leading opposition candidates.
Internet service was disrupted across the country, monitor group NetBlocks said, as videos of young protesters throwing rocks at security forces and a petrol station in flames circulated on social media.
Witnesses reported aggressive demonstrations in several neighbourhoods of Dar es Salaam, the country's main city, including the burning of a local government office.
Video posted on X by the leading opposition party showed dozens of young men running through the streets of the northern city of Arusha, columns of dark smoke rising behind them, chanting: "We want our country!"
Protesters are angry about the banning of the two leading opposition candidates from the election and a wave of alleged abductions of government critics.
Government and police spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.
The government has said the election is being conducted fairly and denied allegations of widespread human rights abuses in the run-up.
The police curfew started at 6 p.m. local time (1500 GMT), and the U.S. embassy said American government personnel had been advised to shelter at their residences.
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PROTESTERS ANGRY ABOUT CANDIDATES' DISQUALIFICATION
CHADEMA had called for protests during the election, which it said amounted to a "coronation" of Hassan, who came to power in 2021 after her predecessor died in office.
The party was disqualified in April after it refused to sign a code of conduct, and its leader Tundu Lissu was charged with treason.
The commission also disqualified Luhaga Mpina, the candidate for opposition party ACT-Wazalendo, leaving only minor parties to take on Hassan.
