Tanzania Braces For Food Shortage Amid Post-Election Crisis

The United Kingdom has significantly escalated its travel advisory for Tanzania, now urging its citizens to avoid all but essential travel to the East African nation. The warning, issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Sunday, November 2, cites widespread disruption, civil unrest, and critical shortages following the country’s general elections on Wednesday, October 29.

Crippling Shortages and Communication Blackout

The FCDO’s urgent update highlighted a collapse in basic services and supplies across Tanzania, stating:

• Supply Crisis: There are acute shortages of food, fuel, and cash services, which have severely disrupted daily life and left thousands vulnerable.
• Internet Shutdown: This supply crisis has been reportedly compounded by the Tanzanian government’s decision to shut down internet and mobile services, blocking access to vital information and financial services. The UK government explicitly warned, “shortages of food, fuel and cash, compounded by the lack of internet services.”

Travel and Transport Gridlock

Movement within and out of Tanzania has been severely restricted:

• Air Travel: Numerous international flights to and from Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam have been cancelled. While Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airports are only partially operational, some flights to and from Zanzibar Airport have also been suspended.
• Domestic Transport: All ferry services from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar are currently suspended, and the Standard Gauge Railways (SGR) train services are unavailable. Widespread road blockades and closures have been reported nationwide.

British nationals currently in Tanzania are advised to limit all movements, adhere to curfews, monitor local media, and follow the advice of local authorities.

Political Backdrop: Disputed Landslide Victory

The civil unrest erupted after Tanzania’s electoral commission declared incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner of the October 29 elections with a landslide 98 per cent of the total votes cast.

The victory hands President Hassan, who initially took over in 2021 following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli, another five-year term. However, the opposition has vehemently rejected the results, citing mass rigging, a lack of transparency, and the exclusion of key opposition figures from the polls. The protests, which began shortly after the vote, underscore a deep political crisis as the government moves to consolidate power amid claims of illegitimacy.