DAR ES SALAAM, The air was thick with smoke, sirens, and fear. As the sun rose over Tanzania’s largest city, thousands of demonstrators flooded Dar es Salaam’s streets, chanting for justice and democracy. Within hours, the tension reached the gates of Julius Nyerere International Airport, a symbol of connection to the outside world, now surrounded by anger and uncertainty.
What began as scattered protests over disputed election results quickly transformed into one of the most dramatic uprisings the nation has seen in years? Roads leading to the airport were barricaded, vehicles abandoned, and travellers stranded as the city’s heartbeat slowed under the weight of unrest.
Government officials insist the airport remains under control, but eyewitnesses describe chaos at its perimeter. “People were running, crying, hiding from tear gas,” said one taxi driver caught in the standoff. “No one could get in or out. It felt like the whole city was collapsing.”
Authorities have since declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew, deploying anti-riot police and soldiers across key installations. Internet restrictions have made real-time updates scarce, fueling confusion and fear. Despite official denials of an airport takeover, videos circulating online show protesters chanting near the runway fences, waving flags and demanding that the election results be annulled.
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The October 2025 election has divided Tanzania, with critics accusing the ruling party of silencing the opposition and manipulating the vote. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in a national address, urged citizens to “choose peace over chaos,” while opposition figures called for international intervention.
Beyond the smoke and slogans, ordinary Tanzanians are the ones caught in the middle, parents keeping children indoors, business owners shuttering shops, and travellers sleeping in their cars. “We just want to live in peace,” said a woman clutching her luggage near Temeke. “We are tired of crying for our country.”
As the curfew deepens and communication lines falter, Tanzania stands at a crossroads. Whether calm will return or chaos will harden into crisis may depend on what happens next, not just at the ballot box, but in the hearts of those demanding change.
