President Hassan: October 29 Unrest Was Coordinated Plot to Overthrow Government
Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared that the unrest which erupted on October 29, along with subsequent violent incidents, was not a spontaneous outbreak of public anger but rather a carefully orchestrated operation designed to overthrow the government.
Speaking to the Dar es Salaam Region Council of Elders on December 2 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC), President Hassan characterized the events as a "manufactured" political scheme with motives far deeper than initially understood.
The nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the violence that broke out shortly after the October 29 general election.
While authorities maintain the polls proceeded peacefully, the following days witnessed sporadic destruction, numerous arrests, and escalating tensions. Security agencies have since issued warnings about attempts to mobilize young people for additional disturbances ahead of December 9.
President Hassan stated that intelligence assessments and subsequent investigations indicate a coordinated plot involving planners, financiers, and ground-level operatives.
"What took place was a manufactured event and those who planned it were determined to overthrow our government," she stated. "This was not an accident. Those behind it aimed to topple our state."
She described the violence as a "broad project of evil," allegedly supported by both internal and external sponsors. Participants, she explained, ranged from those intentionally involved to others who were misled, enticed, or paid.
The President emphasized that the acts of vandalism, including attacks on government projects, police infrastructure, and private businesses, bore no resemblance to lawful demonstrations protected under the Constitution.
"In a lawful demonstration people march peacefully with grievances, escorted by police, and disperse after delivering their message," she said. "What happened instead were organized riots for a specific purpose."
President Hassan also questioned the timing of the unrest, noting that its occurrence on election day indicated deliberate planning.
"We swore to protect this country, its borders, its people and their property," she declared. "So when some say we used excessive force, what lesser force was expected? Should we have simply watched as those plotting an overthrow succeeded?"
She added that other countries have similarly acted firmly when unrest threatens constitutional order.
The President expressed particular concern that many young people were manipulated, with some citing misleading narratives about events abroad, including Madagascar.
"Using our young people for political games is unacceptable," she warned. "It endangers their future and the stability of our nation."
The government says it remains committed to maintaining peace and ensuring that those responsible for orchestrating the violence face the law.
