Tanzania arrests 130 people as government cracks down on dissent

WEB DESK: Tanzanian police have arrested 130 people for allegedly “inciting criminal acts”, police said on Thursday, amid a crackdown on dissent following a ban on all political rallies.

According to police, they were working to track down other suspects.

Before the ban on rallies, announced by the interior minister on June 26, protesters had planned to gather on the July 7 public holiday to call for democratic reforms and justice for people killed in election violence last year.

Heavy security deployments prevented the protests from happening.

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

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