US Upgrades Tanzania Travel Advisory to Level 3 Amid Unrest and Crime Concerns

The United States Department of State has escalated its Travel Advisory for Tanzania from Level 2 to Level 3, now urging its citizens to Reconsider Travel due to escalating unrest, crime, terrorism, and the specific targeting of gay and lesbian individuals. The “unrest” risk indicator was formally added to the advisory.

Dependable NG reports that the US government’s updated warning emphasizes that demonstrations in Tanzania can be widespread and highly unpredictable. The Tanzanian authorities have already increased the security presence around protest areas, which includes setting up stationary checkpoints and roadblocks, thereby disrupting movement.

The advisory warns citizens against the significant risk of violent crime, including sexual assault, robberies, mugging, and carjacking, noting that local police forces possess limited resources to respond effectively to such serious incidents. Furthermore, the State Department flagged the possibility of extremist activity and terrorist attacks, with the risk of terrorist violence identified as most common in the Mtwara Region.

The travel warning explicitly cautioned members of the same-sex community to exercise extreme caution, citing multiple instances of police harassment and the arrest of persons identified as gay or lesbian. The heightened security concerns stem primarily from the violence that erupted in Tanzania following the October 29, 2025, national elections for President, members of the National Assembly, and ward councillors.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with a reported 98% of the vote and is scheduled to be sworn in for a second term on Monday. However, Chadema, the main opposition party that was barred from participation, has insisted the election was a “sham” and is actively calling for fresh elections. Amidst the government’s widely condemned crackdown on protesters who refuse to back down, internet services across the East African nation remain largely blocked.