file photo — AI generated

Tanzania’s disputed October 29 elections were followed by mass protests and mass protests.

Ahead of a planned nationwide protest scheduled for December 9 — to protest against the heavy-handedness of security forces during last month’s post-election violence — the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania has warned American travelers to exercise caution due to heightened tension in the East African nation.

The Embassy statement said protest activity could begin ahead of the scheduled date, warning travelers to expect significant disruptions in the coming weeks. These disruptions include possible curfews, ferry cancellations between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, disruption of international flights, and roadblocks enforcing movement restrictions.

"Security authorities have searched electronics for evidence of connection to unrest or politically sensitive content," the Embassy alert said, noting that sharing images or videos that "may cause panic" is a criminal offense under Tanzanian law.

The opposition has called for nationwide demonstrations on December 9 to protest what it describes as a brutal crackdown following the disputed election.