Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has opened up about the unrest that erupted on October 29, saying the violence that followed was not a natural reaction but part of a planned effort to shake the country’s stability.
Speaking at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre on December 2, 2025, she told the Dar es Salaam Region Council of Elders that the incidents were far more organised than many initially thought.
She explained that intelligence reports and investigations revealed the presence of planners, financiers, and individuals on the ground who executed the plan with a clear goal in mind.
According to President Samia, the events were a staged political project designed to cause chaos and eventually topple the government. She stated that those behind the plan were determined to remove the current administration by force.
She added that the violence was supported by both internal and external actors who had different motivations. Some people were misled into joining the unrest, while others were paid or pushed to take part in the disruption.
In her view, the attacks on government property, police facilities, and private businesses had nothing in common with peaceful demonstrations. She stressed that genuine demonstrations follow a structure where people express grievances peacefully with police guidance before heading back home, which was not the case during the unrest.
While speaking to the elders, President Samia questioned why the chaos took place on election day, suggesting that the timing was part of the strategy.
She defended the government’s response to the violence, saying security forces acted to protect the country, its citizens, and public property. She challenged critics who claimed the government used excessive force, arguing that the state had a duty to stop any group attempting to overthrow the government. She pointed out that many other countries act firmly in similar situations to prevent disruption of constitutional order.
President Samia also criticised what she described as foreign interference. She claimed that some foreign actors were unhappy with Tanzania’s stability and were now attempting to create problems.
She accused them of trying to destabilise the country after failing to manage their own. She questioned why some nations behave as though they have authority over Tanzania, insisting that such behaviour would not be accepted.
She maintained a strong message that Tanzania would not allow external forces to dictate its path.
In her address, she also spoke to the frustrations of young people who have complained about the rising cost of living. She suggested that many youths would understand Tanzania’s relative stability if they had the chance to see tougher conditions in other countries.
She highlighted that Tanzania has valuable resources, including rare minerals, which she believes attract unwanted attention from foreign interests. For her, this wealth is one of the reasons external actors aim to influence or destabilise the nation.
President Samia ended her message by urging Tanzanians to remain united and protect the nation’s peace and dignity. She said the country should never reach a point where citizens harm each other over political differences. She reminded the public that Tanzania belongs to everyone, and it is the responsibility of all citizens to protect it.
