Tanzania blackout after election chaos, deaths feared

President Samia Suluhu Hassan had sought to solidify her position and silence criticism within her party in the virtually uncontested polls, with the main challengers either jailed or disqualified.
In the run-up, rights groups condemned a "wave of terror" in the east African nation, which has seen a string of high-profile abductions that ramped up in the final days.

A heavy security presence on Wednesday failed to deter hundreds protesting in economic hub Dar es Salaam and elsewhere, some singing: "We want our country back".

Unverified images on social media showed initially small protests escalated during the day with reports of police responding with live fire as they targeted polling stations, police vehicles and businesses connected to the ruling party.

A diplomatic source said the unrest continued into the night despite a curfew imposed by police.

An internet blackout was still in place on Thursday, while the police and army had set up checkpoints around Dar es Salaam and other cities, the diplomatic source said.

Schools and colleges were closed on Thursday and civil servants told to work from home, a reporter said.

The government has remained silent and the heavily controlled local media made no mention of the unrest, nor provide any update on the election.

There are reports that upwards of 30 people may been killed in Wednesday's violence, the diplomatic source said, but this could not be verified.