DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Movement across Tanzania has ground to a halt after widespread election-related violence forced authorities to close major highways, including the main road linking Dar es Salaam to Julius Nyerere International Airport.
The United States Embassy in Tanzania on Thursday, October 30, 2025, issued an alert warning its citizens to stay indoors and avoid all non-essential travel, citing “road closures, demonstrations, and outbreaks of violence” in several parts of the country.
“Some major roads, including the main road to Julius Nyerere International Airport, are closed,” the advisory read. “Reports indicate countrywide demonstrations resulting in roadblocks.”
The closures have left thousands of travellers stranded, with limited access to airports and intercity routes.
The situation was compounded by a nationwide internet blackout, making it nearly impossible for residents to communicate or access traffic updates.
Local sources said roads leading out of Dar es Salaam, as well as key transport corridors connecting the city to Mwanza, Arusha, and Tunduma, were barricaded with burning tyres and debris as protesters clashed with police.
In Dar es Salaam, police have set up checkpoints and curfew zones, forcing motorists to abandon vehicles and walk long distances to safety.
Long-haul trucks were reportedly halted at multiple points along the Central Corridor, a critical route for trade with neighbouring countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes at bus terminals, where intercity transport operators suspended services amid the violence.
Travellers attempting to reach the airport were advised to stay put as authorities sealed access roads and diverted traffic.
The disruptions have raised fears of a logistical crisis, with goods and fuel supplies expected to be delayed if the unrest continues.
The violence erupted during Wednesday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which saw deadly confrontations between police and opposition supporters.
Hospital and diplomatic sources said dozens were injured, while unverified reports suggest at least 30 deaths.
The unrest has spread to multiple opposition strongholds, including Arusha, Tarime, Mwanza, and Mbeya, as citizens protested what they called a flawed election designed to extend President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s rule.
President Hassan, who took office in 2021, is widely expected to secure re-election under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has governed Tanzania since independence.
Kenya has yet to issue a travel advisory, even as Kenyans living and working in Tanzania reported being trapped in the chaos.
Tanzania hosts more than 250,000 Kenyan nationals, many of them cross-border traders who rely heavily on the same roads now sealed off by authorities.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday evening posted a message praying for peace and stability in Tanzania.
With roadblocks, curfews, and restricted access to airports, normal movement remains severely disrupted — leaving Tanzania’s transport network effectively paralyzed as the election fallout deepens.
