#BBCAfricaEye investigates a wave of enforced disappearances spreading fear across Tanzania.
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When Samia Suluhu became Tanzania’s first female president in 2021, after the sudden death in office of her predecessor, there were hopes that her presidency would mark a break from authoritarian rule. She lifted a ban on opposition rallies, allowed the media to operate more freely, and called for greater political inclusivity. Expectations of lasting change, however, soon faded.
From opposition figures and human rights activists, to artists and members of the ruling party itself, an unprecedented crackdown on government critics has shaken Tanzania.
Through powerful testimonies from survivors of abduction and torture, and vivid reconstructions of their harrowing experiences, this film reveals the campaign of intimidation and fear that government critics endure in the country.
00:00 State of Fear: Inside Tanzania’s Enforced Disappearances
01:57 The dark reality behind a democratic image
03:49 ‘Hurt a few so many will be scared’
06:21 ‘The day I was abducted’
09:10 Abductions aren’t new in Tanzania
10:10 Samia Suluhu Hassan: a presidency of hope?
13:03 ‘Shining a torch in your eyes, it feels like your eyes are popping out’
15:34 Prominent activists go to Tanzania to support a jailed opposition leader
17:03 ‘What offences have I committed?’
21:35 ‘I’d lost hope completely’
22:49 Served by people wearing police uniforms
24:19 Left in a den of wolves to be eaten
29:35 Unsolved politically motivated abductions
31:53 ‘It was so much pain, I had no tears, my body went into shock.’
38:16 ‘Their aim was to kill. I shouldn’t be here telling this story.’
40:05 ‘Enforced disappearances are very difficult to prove in Tanzania’
44:57 ‘You cannot get justice through silence’
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📽 Watch this film in SWAHILI here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZUZM8u8LYk and in FRENCH here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wdXAM6JCms
ICC, UN, AU where are you???????
I think the world is slowly turning very Draconian…human rights have progressively been eroded to a point now the system can do what they want. Not sure how it will eventually end
The current president of Tanzania is an Islamic jihadist whose aim is to spread fear and terror in Tanzania and east Africa.
It has never been democratic or peaceful.
This is like a silent genocide that happened as well too in Uganda u need to make one for Uganda for the world to know but we stand in solidarity with the people of Tanzania
Good morning I am asking respectfully if you are going to use my content that you don't do such a in your face close up. My video was used last and I'm asking not to zoom in this way thank you
The Tanzanians are the people countries should taking in. They are used to a democracy and, so, are less likely to see free countries as ‘easy pickings’ to steal, commit fraud and other crimes, like the Somalians in the US and Islamic extremists in the UK who will soon takeover Great Britain, completely. Although, I do not like nor support (I used to contribute monetarily) the BBC anymore, because it is now under Islamic extremist control, it occasionally comes up with good documentaries. One still has to be cautious even with their documentaries, because they will skew facts and commit deceptive editing, in order to manipulate viewers.
God bless and be with you all my brothers and sisters ❤
It's called the power of freemason's…
Africans cut of yoke of this devils and you will be free
I thought our 'Tarzan boy' came from Tanzania. Call him back to settle the country.
Respect to the people of Tanzania for fighting for their country, unlike the cowards who run to other countries instead of fixing their own!
You guys look for another story we will defending our country for your bad news
These are the same things happening in Uganda and these two presidents are collaborating in murdering, torturing and abducting citizens.
The only time the white people are there to help is when they can get resources in return.
Doing something cuz its injustice is never relevant anymore.
I feel deeply for the ones affected.
Behåll kronan, glöm Euro.
Ska man behöva räkna fram vad en vara kostar varenda gång man ska handla.det är som att vi ska ändra mätsystemet till inch
Miles, och mph, cup, gallon, 3/4, bar, blir bara fel, folk kommer bygga fel, räkna fel, köra för fort, och betala fel.
Och hur ska Sverige ha det egentligen, behöver vi Euron om vi ska ha det kontantfritt i samhället. Det blir sämre och kostar mycket pengar att byta.
Hur ska gamla kunna räkna, många kommer bli lurade.
Nej, ge fan i Svenska system som fungerar bra. Låt alla andra vara duktiga och följa trenderna. Med tanke på vad intelligenta alla svenska mått är, mm, mil, kr, liter, kg är så borde världen rätta sig efter oss istället, säg åt någon att dom ska köpa ett 3/4 stålrör på 34,7 tums mått du har till 01:00 PM att fixa det, röret kostar 0,39 euro per tum och när du har 21,9 miles till jobbet, när måste du fara när bensinen kostar 2,48 Euro om du kör i 59 mph
Och hur många gallon drar den på den sträckan om bilen väger 1753 pound. Ja ni fattar att jag drog det i långbänk.
Ville bara påpeka att Sverige har bra valuta redan, och mycket annat.
Gör det inte sämre, vill jag fara på semester så växlar jag till euro.
There shld be a revolution in Tanzania!!!!
You @BBC are so stupid why don't you talk about the killing of children in GAZA if you really love peace and humanity
torture in 2026 is wild, this should never happen in a civilized country. Tanzania leadership need to change how they treat their people.
This channel needs to be barred from Tanzania.
Ban BBC in Africa.
How a woman in power in Africa can do this to her people is shocking ,thought this kind of mass murdering of own citizens are only carried out by the male corrupt policticans in Africa?
He'll be on the street at 21 years old.
They should have removed that little girl's name from this video. Not good.
The horrors of Tanzania know no limits. The child sacrifice and witch doctors and the milita out there killing innocent ppl. Thank god for the good souls out there making a difference. The shadows will not win against the light. Keep fighting against the darkness.
Tanzania people is BBC people. Tanzania woman connect with Tanzania man by BBC. World need more BBC
Africa is bleeding my God 😭 evil has taken over Africa 😭
Shocking!😲
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 You have many problems in your western countries but you think Tanzania is in state of emergency on something your western people are cooking up 🙄🙄🙄.If Tanzania is bad then why are you guys hanging in Tanzania? Aren’t you scared of being taken ? Natural resources in Tanzania are for Tanzanians not for your western masters, Tanzania is not Kenya where you take as you wish and even giving orders to Kenyan government on how to govern. Another thing is Tanzania will never stop being friends with Russia and China, Tanzania is a free country you can’t dictate its future or choose friends for it. Kidnappings in Tanzania are orchestrated by your western countries and you use so called Kenyan, Burundi human rights activists who are under your payroll to cause chaos in Tanzania, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You even tried to block Tanzania from building electric dam with reason being if animals were going to have PTSD and pee in bed at night if moved from that side of the forest 🙄🤣🤣🤣 but Tanzania build the dam and another one 😂😂😂 you hate to see developments in Tanzania because UK is fallen, EU is fallen, full of food shortages 😂😂😂 Africa is the super power and west hates it so will do whatever it takes to stir up fake crap. One thing we know for sure is your puppet, sell out product of Belgium Tundu Lisu will never become a president on Tanzanian soil, period so keep up with your staged kidnappings but remember everything have an end, this too will end
Thank you BBC for never keeping quiet about things that the world ignore God bless you all
I wish that one day you can also cover the painful experience of christians persecution in Nigeria.
Long live Nick Wambugu
Guess what 9 days ago this bid was posted and the havoc occurred in 2025 really stop doing this game documentaries
SAMIA MUST GO
Samia must be prosecuted
SAMIA SULUHU AND CCM ARE MONSTERS 👹
Dodoma finds itself katika mtego wa katba. Rais and vice president from Zanzibar. Uncotitutional. Every 🐕 dog has its day ( CCM ). Tanzania is now man eat man society 😮
Wisdom of Solomon 6:1–6
“Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand…
Because power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest…
He will examine your works, and search out your counsels…
Mighty men shall be mightily tormented.”
This is what will happen to these cruel,evil and merciless African governments.
Why is Agather, keep on calling those ruthless thugs gentlemen and they were NOT gentle on them…
Call spade a spade, call them ruthlessmen Not gentlemen
Thank you BBC for this investigation. I have learned to respect authority.
Romans 13
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
Tanzania is a threat to humanity 😢
President Samia should face justice even if it's after she leaves power
Please every support chadema wanawatesa sana wapinzani na wasema kweli kama polepole
Civil Rights are bankrolled by the US Federal Bank of America. They are working on an American agenda of regime change. We better have bad leaders than good leaders chosen by the imperialists regime in the US. This lady named Sarungi is remnant of the imperial colonists. NO TO IMPERIALISM!!
Dispicable!!!!!!!
Thank you BBC for showing the world the atrocities committed by the Tanzanian government and the Police.
Dark time for Tanzania 😢😢, sending love from Kenya 🤝.
So traumatizing…I wish people should fortify themselves before embarking on these kinds of journeys..💔💔💔😭😭😭 GOD IS SO PATIENT ON THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE, so unhuman
I think the ultimate fear is that there is nothing that is being done by anyone or anything to the people who inflict these atrocities on other people.
My country Tanzania 🚩🚩💔💔😭😭😭🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿
It's a plague affecting the whole of the East African region, and we all know where it originates. You all know the old fool responsible for spreading this plague.