This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
On November 27, 2019, Tanzania's government spokesman, Hassan Abbasi, issued a warning to local media outlets that they would face consequences for quoting foreigners who criticized the country's election process.
The warning came after the United States and the United Kingdom expressed concerns about irregularities in the local elections held on November 24, 2019, in Tanzania.
The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania stated that election officials had overwhelmingly excluded opposition candidates during the election process.
British Ambassador Sarah Cooke also weighed in, saying that the lack of accreditation for credible domestic observers, the coordinated disqualification of opposition candidates, and the opposition's decision to boycott the vote had denied Tanzanians the opportunity to decide their local leaders in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
Under the administration of President John Magufuli, Tanzania has seen a significant crackdown on independent journalism and non-governmental organizations over the past four years.
