President Samia Suluhu. Photo/Courtesy
Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi has publicly appealed to former U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in Tanzania following what he describes as a violent crackdown by President Samia Suluhu after her landslide win in the October 29, 2025, elections.
Kimambi’s appeal comes in the wake of Trump authorizing the U.S. security forces to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an action Kimambi references as a precedent for foreign intervention.
In a statement addressed to Trump on social media, Kimambi alleged that President Suluhu’s government shut down the internet and electricity nationwide for three days during the post-election period, and claimed more than 10,000 Tanzanians were killed in subsequent crackdowns.
He criticized the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for failing to respond meaningfully to the alleged violence.
“Some critics have condemned those of us appealing for U.S. intervention, arguing that Tanzanians should confront this brutal regime on their own. Let me be clear: Tanzanians did resist. On October 29, they took to the streets and were met with live bullets,” Kimambi said.
He accused security forces of targeting protesters both in public and at home to instill fear among citizens.
Kimambi also referenced Tanzania’s vast natural resources, including uranium, natural gas, coal, nickel, lithium, gold, tanzanite, and diamonds, suggesting that foreign powers such as the UAE, China, and Russia are supporting the government to exploit these resources while disregarding civilian casualties.
He framed U.S. intervention as a potential way to counter the influence of these countries and establish a stronger partnership with the United States.
In addition to political appeals, Kimambi urged Trump to press Meta platforms to reinstate his Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp accounts, which he claims were deactivated following pressure from the Tanzanian government.
He criticized what he described as excessive concentration of social media ownership, arguing that it enables authoritarian regimes to silence dissent.
The activist’s public message has sparked debate online, with some Tanzanians opposing calls for foreign intervention while others support his claims of state repression. Tanzanian authorities have yet to respond to Kimambi’s statements or the allegations of mass killings.
This development underscores rising tensions in Tanzania’s political landscape, with international attention likely to increase as opposition voices continue to challenge the government’s post-election conduct.