Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the launch of wide-ranging consultations to establish a National Reconciliation Commission in early 2026, describing the move as essential to strengthening national unity and addressing the political and social repercussions of violence that accompanied the October 2025 general elections.
In a year-end address delivered from State House in Tunguu on the island of Zanzibar, President Samia confirmed that the government has already begun taking practical steps to form the commission. She explained that the process would be based on inclusivity and transparency, with broad participation from political parties, civil society organizations, and religious and community leaders, ensuring balanced representation of Tanzania’s diverse social components.
She noted that the National Reconciliation Commission would be tasked with addressing the consequences of electoral tensions and violence, healing social and political divisions, rebuilding trust between the state and citizens, as well as among rival political forces, in preparation for a more stable political environment ahead of future electoral milestones.
Tanzania experienced sporadic political and social unrest over the past year, peaking during the elections, when violence erupted in several areas and resulted in casualties. These developments raised domestic and international concerns over internal stability and renewed calls for launching a comprehensive national reconciliation and dialogue process.
President Samia urged citizens to demonstrate “patience, maturity, and a sense of national responsibility,” stressing that overcoming divisions requires joint efforts by the state and society, and the cultivation of a political culture based on mutual trust, peaceful coexistence, and respect for pluralism. She emphasized that national reconciliation would not be a mere political slogan, but a serious and sustainable process involving all stakeholders, aimed at laying the foundations for national unity capable of confronting the challenges ahead.