Tanzania bans political rallies ahead of youth-led protests

Tanzania's interior minister, Patrobas Katambi, said on Friday the government was banning ​all political rallies, less than two weeks ‌before youth-led protests planned for July 7.

Katambi told lawmakers in parliament that the ban was because of security ​threats and did not say how long ​it would last.

The protesters plan to gather on ⁠the July 7 public holiday to call ​for democratic reforms and justice for people killed ​in election violence last year.

A government-appointed commission of inquiry said in April that at least 518 people were killed in the ​unrest, which was driven by the exclusion ​of leading opposition candidates from the elections.

Tanzanian authorities have denied ‌allegations ⁠by human rights groups that the security services used excessive force.

The commission placed the blame for the violence with the protesters, which infuriated the government's ​opponents, who ​accused it ⁠of bias.

The main opposition party has said thousands were killed in ​the election unrest.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was ​declared ⁠the winner of the presidential election last year with nearly 98% of the vote.

She said the election ⁠unrest ​was an attempt to overthrow ​her government and received foreign funding, without providing evidence.

-Reuters