US raises travel advisory to level 3 in Tanzania
United States Embassy in Tanzania has elevated its travel advisory to Level 3, urging American citizens to reconsider travel to the East African nation
The United States Embassy in Tanzania has elevated its travel advisory to Level 3, urging American citizens to reconsider travel to the East African nation as deadly violence continues following general elections held on October 29.
In a statement issued on Saturday, November 1, the US State Department cited multiple security concerns, including ongoing civil unrest, elevated crime rates, terrorism threats, and the targeting of gay and lesbian individuals, as reasons for the heightened advisory level.
The US advisory warned that violent crime remains common throughout Tanzania, including assault, sexual assault, robberies, mugging, and carjacking, with local police having limited resources to respond effectively to serious crimes.
Additionally, there is an ongoing risk of terrorist violence, particularly in the Mtwara Region near the border with Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province, where attacks by groups linked with Islamic extremism have been reported.
The advisory notes explicitly that members of the gay and lesbian community face arrest, targeting, and harassment. People who identify as gay or lesbian may experience a higher likelihood of being targeted by police, and those detained under suspicion of same-sex sexual conduct may face invasive physical examinations.
The US Embassy has advised American citizens who decide to travel to Tanzania to take extensive precautions.
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Travelers should have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on US government help, with the embassy recommending a review of its information on crises and evacuations.
The advisory comes as Tanzania faces its worst political crisis in recent memory, with the main opposition party Chadema reporting that approximately 700 people have been killed in just three days of election-related protests across the country.
According to John Kitoka, spokesman for Chadema, the death toll has reached catastrophic levels, with around 350 deaths reported in Dar es Salaam alone and over 200 in Mwanza.
He warned that the actual number could be significantly higher, as killings may be occurring during the nighttime curfew imposed by authorities.
Violent demonstrations have erupted in major urban centers, including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Mbeya, with reports of security forces using live ammunition, tear gas, and water cannons against protesters.
Polling centers have been set ablaze in several locations, and at least one police vehicle was torched during the unrest.
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