Archbishop Ruwa'ichi: 'Protesting Is Not a Crime Punishable by Bullets,' Condemns Tanzania's Post-Election Slaughter

​-By Ruben Mario Brodrick 

​DAR ES SALAAM, NOVEMBER 10, 2025 — The Catholic Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Most Rev. Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, OFM Cap., delivered a searing condemnation of the violence and killings that engulfed Tanzania during and after the October 29 General Election, mourning what he described as the nation’s "loss of soul."

​In a deeply emotional homily during a solemn Memorial Mass for the victims—a group that includes those killed in what is being called the country's worst post-election bloodshed—the Archbishop lamented the devastating human cost. Reports indicate that many lives were lost, hundreds were injured, and scores are still detained as authorities continue to round up individuals accused of participating in the protests.

​Fractured Nation and Loss of Dignity

​The unrest has sparked both national and international outrage, staining Tanzania’s long-standing reputation as a beacon of stability in Africa. Archbishop Ruwa’ichi did not spare the nation's leadership, with many observers pointing to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration for the deadly crackdown and political rupture.

​Addressing a visibly shaken congregation, the Archbishop grieved the nation's moral decline: “Our country has been fractured. We have lost our sense of dignity... This nation has not only lost its respect, but it has lost her people, her very sons and daughters.”

​He branded the killings as “senseless, cruel, and without cause,” noting that innocent citizens fell victim to a wave of brutality.

​The Bullet is Not Punishment for Dissent

​Archbishop Ruwa’ichi issued his fiercest criticism against the use of lethal force on demonstrators and the targeting of citizens in their homes. He condemned the actions, which occurred amid an internet shutdown and arrests of opposition leaders, as an orchestrated assault on democratic freedoms.

​“People were killed while protesting, yet the punishment for demonstration is not death by the bullet,” he stressed. “Others were hunted down and killed in their own homes. This has no justification. None.”


​The prelate insisted that such violence does not reflect the true character of Tanzania, calling the events “an offense against God” that has no explanation or forgiveness.

​Justice: The Foundation of Peace

​Warning against "hollow rhetoric" that speaks of peace while ignoring accountability, Archbishop Ruwa’ichi emphasized that true stability is impossible where injustice flourishes.

​“Tanzania, we have lost the sense of justice... Let it be clear: there is no peace without justice. This truth must be rooted in our minds and hearts,” he asserted firmly.

​He challenged leaders and citizens to seek wisdom grounded in moral clarity. Reiterating the point, he proclaimed, “Justice is the true foundation of peace.” The Archbishop concluded by inviting the faithful to transform their grief into a unified plea for national healing and a commitment to "stand ready to do justice."

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