A coalition of local and international human rights groups has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open a case against Tanzanian President Samia Hassan and senior members of her government over killings by the security forces during post-election unrest in October. How many people died in the protests over the "sham" elections is still unknown. Hassan's government has remained silent on an official death toll, but the opposition—who were effectively barred from the polls—claims thousands were shot dead by the police and allegedly Ugandan special forces. Gruesome images were widely shared online of armed men firing indiscriminately at people, and of overflowing morgues. A CNN investigation found that satellite imagery suggested the existence of mass graves.

The opposition has chosen Tanzania's Independence Day, Dec. 9, to take to the streets to demand the resignation of Hassan and the nullification of an election she officially won with 98% of the vote. International pressure is also mounting, with European MPs blocking a major EU development package.