Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu has been sued at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over post-election violence that happened on October 29, 2025.
According to a statement dated Tuesday 25, November 2025, the World Jurists Association and the Madrid Bar Association argued that Tanzanian security forces have murdered thousands of civilians, enforced disappearances, tortured detainees, committed sexual violence, and displaced Maasai communities.
“This Communication is respectfully submitted before the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) pursuant to Article 15(2) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” read part of the petition.
“This Communication provides to the OTP substantiated information concerning crimes against humanity perpetrated against the civilian population of the United Republic of Tanzania, with particular focus on the systematic attack that occurred during and following the general elections of 29 October 2025 and ongoing facts.”
Additionally, they have claimed that they have conducted cyber-enabled operations since 2016 and filed an 82-page petition against the government.
Petition Against Suluhu to the ICC
The two organizations led by lawyer Juan Carlos Gutierrez filed a petition to the ICC, presenting detailed accounts of crimes against humanity they claim are linked to the country’s 2025 elections.
“The crimes documented in this Communication constitute violations of Article 7 of the Statute and have been committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against civilian populations across multiple regions of Tanzania. The attack was conducted pursuant to state policy, with the knowledge and direct participation of the highest levels of the Tanzanian government, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her security apparatus.” Read the petition.
As mentioned in the statement, they have highlighted their arguments dated from 2022 to date as a systematic pattern of events against humanity that happened during the October 2025 electoral period and supported it with background information from Tanzania’s post-independence history.